The organisers awarded the prize to Putin for his outstanding contribution to world peace – namely opposing the bombing of Libya. Qiao Damo, a member of the organising committee told reporters that “this April or May, Putin was against Nato’s idea to bomb Libya and he appeared to the world in a peaceful manner. This year’s peace prize was given to him because his act this year was outstanding in keeping world peace.”

Nine of the organising committee’s sixteen members voted for Putin, leaving him victorious in a field containing “Gyaltsen Norbu (the “Chinese Panchen Lama”), Bill Gates, South African President Jacob Zuma, former UN chief Kofi Annan, Yuan Longping, a Chinese agricultural scientist known as the “father of hybrid rice”, German chancellor Angela Merkel, and Taiwanese politician James Soong (宋楚瑜)”

(How Merkel, who recently praised NATO’s Libya campaign got onto the shortlist in the first place isn’t entirely clear.)

Given the widespread media coverage of the award, it’s safe to assume that Putin is now aware of his triumph; however neither the man himself or the Russian authorities have yet commented and it seems likely that, given the ridicule the prize has received, Putin will probably decline to make the trip to Beijing for the awards ceremony on 9 December (the day before the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony). The last person to receive the award – Lien Chan, the former Vice President of Taiwan – didn’t know he had won until after he heard about it in the press, and didn’t turn up to the awards ceremony in Beijing. Instead an un-named little girl known only as an “angel of peace” solemnly accepted the award – and the $15,000 prize money on his behalf.

Putin may also be influenced in his decision not to attend by the somewhat dodgy provenance of the Committee organising the award. After last year’s farce, the Chinese Government told the prize organisers to disband immediately.

On Sept. 19, the ministry ordered the so-called protection department to disband and not to organize any activities under the auspices of the Association of Chinese Indigenous Arts. The order said that the department had held a news conference on Sept. 17 about the second Confucius Peace Prize without official approval, and that the group had improperly used the ministry’s name and violated its rules. The order was posted on the ministry’s Web site last Tuesday.

They obeyed their instructions, and then promptly reformed into a slightly different organisation offering the same prize, no doubt much to the embarrasment of China’s Government.

Putin: Confucius Peace Prize Winner 2011! is a post from: Siberian Light

The decision to award the first Russian World Cup Tournament, coming just a couple of years after Russia won the right to host the 2014 Olympics in Sochi demonstrates that Russia has been able to convince the world that it is ready to host major sporting events – there are no bigger world sporting events than the Olympics and the Football World Cup. The test now, for Russia, will be to prove the doubters wrong, and host two spectacular tournaments that make the rest of the world green with envy!

The World Cup voting

FIFA’s decision, announced this afternoon in Zurich, comes as a bit of a surprise to many. The voting was actually pretty decisive, though – Russia won in the second round of voting, by a pretty hefty margin.

Although Russia’s bid was fairly strong overall, it was technically rated the weakest of the three main Word Cup bids by FIFA examiners, behind the England bid and the joint Spain / Portugal bid – the biggest problem being thought to be the massive distances that fans would need to travel and Russia’s weak and vulnerable air transport infrastructure. In many pundits’ eyes, it was the weakest of the three main bids, overall.

However, the examiners did note that Russia had promised to invest massive amounts in new football stadiums, which would leave the country with a tremendous legacy from hosting the World Cup. It seems that this must have swayed the FIFA delegates, and been a more important consideration that travel and other infrastructure problems when it came time to vote. The same considerations seem to have been key in their decision to award the following 2022 World Cup to Qatar, another developing country that would see a massive boost from hosting a World Cup.

England, many pundits favourite before the vote, received very few votes (to be precise – England received 2 votes!) and were knocked out in the first round of voting. Although you can make a good argument that England wouldn’t have been the ideal host, the number of votes that England actually received is dramatically lower than you would expect, given the evident quality of their bid. It looks like the accusations of corruption among FIFA executives by the British media may well have done irretrievable damage to the English campaign. This is sad, not just for the English bid, but for Russia too – given Russia’s reputation as a generally corrupt country, this will do nothing but fuel the flames for those critics who will claim that Russia won the right to host this World Cup by bribing FIFA officials.

Russia World Cup Format

Spanning a massive area, hosting a World Cup in Russia was never going to be an easy challenge. The Russian Football Federation have solved it with a plan that will see matches hosted in 16 stadiums spread across 13 Russian cities. The cities have been divided into four clusters, to keep group stage matches in the same geographical area, and the Russian World Cup Final will be held in the Moscow Luzhniki Stadium.

Here’s a pretty infographic from RIA Novosti to give you a graphical idea of how the World Cup will be organised:

Russia’s bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup

12:17 02/12/2010 The national concept stipulates World Cup matches at 16 stadiums in 13 cities comprising four clusters>>

Other news of the day

Reaction

Russian President Vladimir Putin decided not to speak in favour of Russia’s bid in Zurich – lets face it, because he didn’t want to be associated with a losing bid. So he’s now in the embarrassing position of having to rush over to Zurich. He explained his about face, unconvincingly:

“I am going to Zurich. I promised members of the Executive Committee that if the decision was made in Russia’s favor, I would certainly come to thank them personally and speak about our preparation plans.”

Putin went on to say:

“I would like to thank the members of the FIFA executive committee for their decision, that they trusted us with staging the football World Cup. I would like to assure the FIFA leadership that we will do everything possible to ensure that the 2018 World Cup is staged at a deserving level.”

Your views

What do you think? Was Russia’s success deserved? Will the Russian World Cup be a success, or will Russia struggle to host such a major tournament?

Russia World Cup Hosts! is a post from: Siberian Light

I was a bit baffled by this surge in visitors wanting to ogle Putin’s Prime Ministerial Pecs, until I realized that it was August again – which means that it’s holiday time for Putin.

Which, naturally also means more pictures of Putin topless. Anyway, not wishing to disappoint anyone, here are Putin’s latest pics, from his visit to Tuva.

Putin gets his kit off and gets ready to mount his horse.

A topless Putin riding his horse.

A refreshing swim. Note that Putin is still wearing his watch, which raises the question – is Putin swimming in his trousers and boots as well?

Putin puts his cloths back on, for a spot of modeling.

And, finally, time for tea. The thing I love, really love, about Russia’s Prime Minister is that, when he goes up country for an outdoor adventue, he brings the best china. Now that’s a real man.

All pictures courtesy of the Russian Prime Minister’s official website.

Putin goes topless on holiday – again is a post from: Siberian Light

Here’s the picture, discovered in the Reagan archives. Apparently, Putin’s the guy on the left in the stripy t-shirt, camera hanging nonchalantly round his neck.

Well, he’s certainly got same the thin blonde combed-across hair and looks to be roughly similar in build to today’s Putin. But is this really a genuine Putin Reagan photo?

According to the blogs (Hot Air are one, and the Weekly Standard are in on it too), it’s Putin, no doubt. The photographer has even “confirmed that the man was Putin.”

But, hang on a minute. Go across to the National Public Radio story cited by the Weekly Standard, and what you actually get is the following quote from photographer Pete Souza:

Souza says he remembers turning to one of the Secret Service agents standing nearby. “I can’t believe these tourists in the Soviet Union are asking these pointed questions.” The agent replied, “Oh, these are all KGB families.”

Not a single word about Putin. So, other than a reasonable likeness, and the knowledge that Putin was in the KGB and the man with the camera might have been, there’s absolutely no evidence to indicate that this is a Putin Reagan picture.

Personally, I reckon it’s a load of old nonsense. It’s a good story, but it’s just some blonde guy with a camera. What do you think?

Did Putin meet Reagan? is a post from: Siberian Light

That Russia plans to deploy missiles close to the EU’s border to neutralise the US missile shield. Oh, and that Russia blames America for the war in Georgia.

I know plans for constitutional reform aren’t as sexy as phallic lumps of metal, but I’m baffled at how the world’s media can so spectacularly miss the importance of this. Especially on today, the day that US Presidential politics is reinvigorated by Obama’s election. Sureyly it doesn’t take much imagination for a journalist to draw some parallels between a US democracy that’s on the up, and a Russian democracy that’s on the way down.

How Medvedev’s plan to extend the Russian Presidency from a 4 to a 6 year term could be anything but bad news for Russian democracy is a mystery to me. Seriously – what actual benefits would a six year long Presidency bring over a four year long Presidency? None.

The only reason for doing this is to reduce the need for elections.

Oh, and possibly to ensure that Putin has the option to serve 12 more years as President, if he wants to.

Looking on the bright side though, Medvedev did also announce plans to reduce the threshold for entry into Russia’s parliament from the current 7%. I hope this will go some way towards re-energising Russian politics, but the cynic in me wonders if this is just a devious plan to give small parties like Yabloko an incentive to stay small and squabbling, rather than to see sense and merge.

Medvedev's speech – world misses point is a post from: Siberian Light

Old softie that Putin is, the tiger cub will be called Mashenka – “Sweetie”.�

Disappointingly though, rather than keeping the tiger in his office to frighten little Dmitry Medvedev, Putin plans to send Mashenka to a zoo.

The question now arises, is there any other world leader who can possibly compete with Putin for the title of world’s manliest leader?� Seriously – who can top a man who:

• Goes fishing with his top off
• Saves the lives of his camera crew by shooting a tiger
• Releases his own Judo training video

No-one. That’s who.

Putin gets a Tiger for his Birthday is a post from: Siberian Light

Vladimir Putin – Putin on the Ritz

Two lame duck leaders and one classic song can only add up to one thing: DANCING!

Gorbachev – saving hot girls from Stalin Zombies.

This one’s in hi-def, so may take a bit longer than the other videos to buffer.

Dmitry Medvedev’s own Russian Obama Girl

Like Obama, Dmitry Medvedev is Russia’s new hope. And the chicks clearly love him.

Medvedi Nevedi

Just in case you’ve not had enough of Dmitry Medvedev.

I want a man like Putin – ?????? ??? ?????

Everyone likes a man like Putin… or do they?

I think, on balance, I prefer Dobby.

Someone still loves you Boris Yeltsin

OK, I admit it. I couldn’t find a song about Yeltsin. So here’s a band named after him instead.

And that’s it. The end of my brief collection of tribute songs to Russian leaders. Have I missed any?

A musical tribute to Russia's leaders is a post from: Siberian Light

A cheerful, but slightly over-heated President Putin told reports

“I am satisfied by the way we have solved the debt problem. The deal will not only employ Russian defence enterprises but will also help strengthen Libya’s defences.”

I must say, I find it fascinating that both Putin and the world’s press have been majoring on the military aspects of this deal.

True, the Russian defence industry will benefit to the tune of a couple of billion dollars worth of new business as Libya modernises its military after decades of sanctions. But in pure money terms, the $3 billion deal to build a new coastal railway line and Gazprom’s proposed gas exploration deal are likely to be far more valuable.

For the press, the attraction of explaining the deal in terms of debt for arms is obvious. But for Putin, it’s yet another opportunity to emphasise Russia’s remerging military muscle. After all, selling arms to an African country is a much better way to promote your military prowess than invading a neighbouring country. And much less risky…

But, I digress. Next stop for Putin is a trip to Sardinia, where he’ll be meeting new Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi. No debt to forgive there, and no chance of arms sales. But Italian energy giant Eni has significant business interests in Libya, and would make a useful partner.

Russia writes off Libya debt – $4.6bn is a post from: Siberian Light

But which way is Russia really heading today? Is Russia on the way to leadership by personality cult, or on the hard way to true democracy? And what will be better for this country � further development of rights and liberties according to the Western example or the necessity of a strong hand able to rule such a big state?

Personality cult is an element of state rule, but only during certain stages of society�s evolution. It is necessary to consolidate the separate tribes and territories around one figure. But for a personality cult, there must be a very strong reason. Usually such reason was the divine origin of the leader.

However, even �progressive� states that have rejected religion don�t refuse to canonize the leader.
To rule society successfully, any power (including the dictator�s one) needs to have the confidence of the nation. This confidence is possible if it is based on canonization of the power (as in totalitarian states) or it could be based on a unification of the power and of the nation behind some common ideas and values, as happens in democratic states. We can�t say anything about ideological unity of the power and of the nation in modern Russia, because current ruling party doesn�t have any ideology. It would be more correct to say that Russia instead has personal confidence in Vladimir Putin (because the confidence to Dmitry Medvedev is too early to mention).

In such conditions it is possible for new personality cult to be born. And it will be born if Russians are unable to find another basis for their national unity. Because to believe sincerely in the image of current or elected president it is not enough.

What could be another basis for Russian national unity? Some experts say that democracy is necessary. But I don�t think so. Democracy is not a source of the power. Pure democracy doesn�t decide anything, because the society must have some idea that it can apply democracy to.

The personality cult in Russia: President is the God or the Leader with a strong hand?

The official ideology of Russian Empire and the Soviet Union was based around the divine origin of the leader and the concept that all the people are only servants of the State. Now, in present-day Russia, we have the same situation developing. Personality cult could appear from this point of veiw, and it is not dependent on whether we have democracy or not. In the time of Yeltsin�s rule, Russia had a lot of democracy, but still lacked something.

It was lack of ideas, which could consolidate the society. We are looking for them still.
So, is it possible that a personality cult is developing in Russia right now? We have the absence of criticism, and to criticise the leadership in mass-media is forbidden at all. These are both early signals that Russia is developing on the path to authoritarianism. I don�t doubt that Russia�s future it is authoritarism. But� it�s a progressive authoritarism.

Russia is following the path of Franco and Pinochet, where a strict leader takes control to avoid chaos in the State, helping to build democracy by being strict. Such a leader leaves the post and gives all the power to legal Parliament, government and the court. And all these three power branches are separated and independent.

Unfortunately there is no political regime which could be ideal for all times and all situations. The way to democracy passes through cruel transformation periods. Otherwise it will be cruel period without transformations and without democracy.

The strong hand on the way to Democracy is a post from: Siberian Light

Not content with being Russia’s next Prime Minister, it appears that Putin also has his sights set on being the head of the ruling United Russia party.

Current party leader Boris Gryzlov announced the move (in what would in Western Europe be regarded as an almost total lack of political ambition) saying deferentially:

“If Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin headed United Russia, it would be the very best option. Such a proposal will probably be made at our congress [on April 14].”

This seems like a sensible approach for Putin to take. As Prime Minister, Putin is technically beholden to President Medvedev, who can sack him at will. But the Duma has to give its approval for any such move, and it would be difficult for a political party to approve the firing of its own leader.

It does make you wonder, though, whether he’s been listening to all the analysts who were predicting a power struggle between Putin and Medvedev a few years down the line…

My favourite bit about this story though is the way it will be stage managed. With typical Russian showmanship, Putin will become United Russia’s 2 millionth member.

How have the party managed to arrange this? Simple – after the 1,999,999th member joined a while ago, they stopped accepting new members. Presumably, prospective members will be allowed entry again only after April 14th.

Putin to be United Russia boss? is a post from: Siberian Light