Moscow nightclub could land in trouble over racy ‘Putin Party’
Dmitry Kostyukov/AFP/Getty ImagesAn sign advertising a dance night called Putin Party with the slogan reading “I want a prime minister” in Moscow, Mar. 1, 2011.
Elspeth Lodge March 2, 2011 – 5:26 pm
Russian government officials called in their lawyers on Tuesday after one of Moscow’s popular nightclubs announced a “Putin Party” dance night, reports say.
The party’s theme was chosen by a group of female clubbers, who voted for the most attractive man from a list which included the likes of star footballer David Beckham and American actor Bruce Willis, said the club’s art director, Artyom Shatrov.
“We wanted to stress that we are choosing the prime minister above everyone,” a club spokeswoman said to UPI.com.
But, it’s not just the theme of the party that concerns government officials, rather the racy manner in which the PM’s name and image is being presented, on flyers and banners in central Moscow. The main slogan? “Object of desire.”
Billboards at the nightclub Rai, which translates to “heaven” or “Paradise,” flaunt the slogan “Spring is coming. I want … the prime minister,” reports the Moscow Times. The club released flyers where the PM’s name is decorated with a lipstick kiss, says AFP. They also hung a large banner across a central street, which read “Putin Party” across it, along with the the slogan “I want a prime minister!”
“We will consult lawyers and decide what to do,” Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told the RIA Novosti news agency. He did not imply if Putin plans to take legal action.
Mr. Shatrov said to AFP the event would proceed despite Peskov’s comment. “Nobody told us to cancel it. The Kremlin did not contact us,” he said. “There wasn’t any point in cancelling it.”He then revealed the highlight of the party will be a DJ presenting a remix of a classic Fats Domino song, “Blueberry Hill,” that Putin performed (in English) at a recent charity gala in Saint Petersburg.
Reports say using the PM’s image and name without his consent could be against Russian law— Putin’s press secretary said Tuesday that he would consult lawyers about whether the club broke a law against using a person’s name and image without consent.
- With files from AFP
An sign advertising a dance night called Putin Party with the slogan reading in Russian “I want a prime minister” is pictured above one of the main street in Moscow on March 1, 2011.
An sign advertising a dance night called Putin Party with the slogan reading “I want a prime minister” in Moscow, Mar. 1, 2011.
Putin scolds customs officers for risqué YouTube video
Elspeth Lodge February 17, 2011 – 11:27 am
A group of customs officers in Vladivostok has earned Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s wrath after they created an risqué YouTube video that went viral in Russia.
The mildly NSFW video shows a female worker rubbing customs forms against her breasts and officials dancing, uncorking champagne and even dive bombing across the floor in their offices.
“Discipline needs to be lifted in some areas a little,” Mr. Putin said on state television. “I also like a laugh and a joke, but artistic creativity is best left for the house of culture.”
Mr. Putin agreed with the head of customs that the officers who made the video are talented, but that these particular talents are perhaps best left for non-office time: “Their talent needs to be put to use somewhere else. But not at work,” he said. “At work they need to work on implementing customs rules and doing their job.”
With files from Agence France-Presse
Photos: A Black Sea palace for Vladimir Putin?
DMITRY SHEVCHENKO / AFP / Getty ImagesElspeth Lodge February 16, 2011 – 3:39 pm
December allegations that the Russian PM Vladimir Putin is having a palace built for his personal use worth an estimated $1-billion and funded by a mix of corruption, bribery and theft are false, insists Vladimir Kozhin, the chief of the Office for Presidential Affairs.
The mysterious palatial building that has appeared on Russia’s Black Sea “has nothing to do with our office or the head of the government. We never did any construction there and aren’t planning any,” Mr. Kozhin told the Moscow Times recently.
DMITRY SHEVCHENKO / AFP / Getty ImagesThe complex of several buildings is dominated by a large Italianate style palace on an extensive seaside plot near the small village of Praskoveyevka in the Krasnodar region.
Whistle-blower businessman Sergei Kolesnikov has alleged that it was being built “for private use” by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier told journalists that Putin “did not and does not have anything to do with this building.”
Bloggers and other media sources covered the web rumors after the Russian version of WikiLeaks, a site called “RuLeaks,” posted photos showing the Italian-style mansion under construction. Subsequently, the RULeaks site was blocked, reports RIA novosti.
Environment Watch North Caucasus is investigating the palace because it is being built illegally on protected forestland, group member Dmitry Shevchenko told the Moscow Times.
“We will continue our efforts to raise public awareness of the situation,” Mr. Shevchenko said. “This is the only thing we can do.”
With files from Agence France-Presse
Kyrgyzstan delays vote on naming mountain after Putin
Elspeth Lodge January 11, 2011 – 5:39 pm
REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Druzhinin
Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holds a piece of excavation as he visits the site of the “Lena-2010″ Russian-German scientific expedition on Samoilovsky Island in Far Eastern Federal District, August 23, 2010. Putin traveled beyond the Arctic Circle on Monday to look into evidence on climate change after a record heatwave devastated central Russia this summer.
Kyrgyzstan prime minister Almazbek Atambayev will have to wait a bit longer to dedicate a mountain to his Russian counterpart, after his parliament on Tuesday differed a final vote to name a mountain after Vladimir Putin.
The 4,446 meter high mountain to be named stands near Mount President Boris Yeltsin (3,500 metres) and Lenin Peak (7,134 metres) in Chuy Province in the Tian Shan mountain range, near the border with China.
What isn’t clear is what exactly the mountain will go by if the bill passes:
RIA Novosti said the bill is for a mountain named ‘Vladimir Putin Peak,’ but, a earlier article by RIA Novosti said the name is slated to be ‘Mount Vladimir Putin,’ as does The Voice of Russia; the Moscow News reported that the mountain is to be called “Peak Vladimir Putin”; France24 and AFP say it will be the ‘Peak of Vladimir Putin.’
Kyrgyzstan was a republic of the Soviet Union before gaining independence in 1991.
Kyrgyzstan to name peak ‘Mount Vladimir Putin’
Getty ImagesElspeth Lodge January 5, 2011 – 4:06 pm
Historically, political figures have softened the heart and opened the mind of tough Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin by giving him cute four-legged creatures, but Kyrgyztan’s PM Almazbek Atambayev has found another gift that will likely put him in Russia’s good graces for years to come. The Kyrgyztan parliament is in the process of naming a 4,500-metre mountain ‘Mount Vladimir Putin,’ reported RiaNovosti, BBC News and the Herald Sun; it will be in the Tian Shan mountain range not far from China’s border.
Photo from the website of the Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceIf the Kyrgyzstan parliament approves the mountain’s name PM Putin will be in well-known company — nearby will be ‘Mount Boris Yeltsin,’ named after Russia’s first president in 2002 — Also, close-by will be ‘Lenin Peak,’ which was renamed four years after the death of the first Soviet leader, reported RiaNovosti.
Officials believe the gift is meant symbolize the importance of the relationship between the two nations, it also shows gratitude for the extensive aid Russia pledged to give the Central Asian Country last December, when Kyrgyz premier Almazbek Atambayev visited Russia, reports All Headline News.
When the two PM’s met on Dec.27. PM Atambayev said “I have always said – when running for MP and for prime minister and when appointed as prime minister – that Russia is our main strategic partner. There is no alternative to it because we have a historical affinity and a shared past. I am convinced that only a united and common future is possible for our countries,” the Russian government reported in press release.
Putin himself has named a mountain, a 3,269 meter high mountain located in the westernmost area of North Ossetia, reported RiaNovosti on Dec.11. The PM named the Sugan Ridge mountain peak in honor of Russian Spies: the Peak of Russian Counterintelligence Agents. The name certainly isn’t as catchy or as ominous sounding as ‘Mount Putin.’
Other gifts Putin has received:
- Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov gave Putin his Bulgarian Shepherd ‘Buffy’ in 2009.
Nikolay Doychinov, AFP/Getty- In 2008 the PM received a two-and-a-half-month-old female Siberian tiger for his 56th birthday. The cub weighed around 20 pounds and was curled up within a wicker basket, on top of a tiger print cushion. Mr. Putin will not reveal who gave him the tiger.
Photo by the Associated Press (AP)
- Putin was presented with one of the smallest horses in the world during the opening ceremony of the International horse-racing complex in 2005.
Dmitry Azarov
- Former Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin gave Putin a Crocodile in 2002.
EU Times
- Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev gave Putin a Persian gazelle in 2002.
photo from piperbasenji.blogspot.com
Abdella II, the King of Jordan, gave Mr.Putin two Pure Arabian colts and a filly, Isis in 2002.
Russian Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu gave Koni, a Black lab, to Putin on New Years Eve in 2001.
ALEXANDER GREK/AFP/Getty Images
Putin loves new dog Buffy, except for ‘puddles’ and ‘piles’
Elspeth Lodge December 17, 2010 – 6:49 pm
Russian PM Vladimir Putin loves his new Bulgarian Shepherd “Buffy”— except for the puddles and piles he leaves around the house, reported the associated press.
The PM gave a quick “Buffy” update on Thursday during a live and unscripted call-in show.
When asked about his new dog, PM Putin said Buffy is doing “Excellently,” but for one thing—”He draws me huge puddles around the entire house, and leaves piles,” he complained, “But he’s a very pretty boy, of course, and I love him,” he said, according to AP.
The caramel and white patched Bulgarian Shepherd Puppy was given to him last month by the PM of Bulgaria, and then re-named by a five year-old boy from Moscow in a national naming contest.
The name “Buffy,” had nothing to do with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which is aired in Russia. But, the PM claimed he just liked the way it sounded.
December 18, 2010 | Categories: Breaking News, Putins Corner | Leave A Comment » | Edit
Putin moves A-list audience with rendition of “Blueberry Hill”
Russian PM Vladimir Putin revealed to Larry King that he is learning English by singing English songs with his teacher and CBCnews reveals he has recently started to take piano lessons — he showed off both of his new musical skills at a charity concert for children suffering from eye diseases on Friday evening in St. Petersburg.
Call me crazy, but Putin singing Fats Domino‘s “Blueberry Hill” in his thick Russian accent is as endearing as him hugging and kissing his Bulgarian puppy “Buffy”.
The PM stood on stage in his black suit Friday evening and said “Like the majority of people, I can neither sing nor play, but I very much like doing it.”And, after playing the opening notes of Blueberry Hill like a child practicing the piano, the PM migrated to the microphone at center-stage and belted-out the words to the song with confidence. He was accompanied by a live band and female background singers.
A-list stars, some of whom paid $15,000 for a ticket, swayed and smiled in the audience — and even made peace signs at Putin during his performance. Celebs in the crowd included: Goldie Hawn, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Costner and Sharon Stone and others.
December 14, 2010 | Categories: Breaking News, Putins Corner | Leave A Comment » | Edit
Vladimir Putin re-names new puppy ‘Buffy’
Elspeth Lodge December 13, 2010 – 10:30 am
Alexy Druzhinin / AFP / Getty Images
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin plays with his Bulgarian shepherd dog named Buffy
I’ve been following the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s national puppy re-naming contest the way I would any important election: closely.
After a country-wide contest to re-name “Yorgo,” the Bulgarian Shepherd given to Mr. Putin by Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov back in November the pup is now, simply, “Buffy.”
Thousands of names were thrown around, mostly evoking thoughts of Russia-Bulgaria relations or Russian patriotism. But the Russian PM went with Buffy, just, he told The Moscow News, because he likes the way it sounds. (And not, apparently, because he’s a big fan of Sarah Michelle Gellar.)
The name surfaced when a five year-old boy from Moscow, Dima Sokolov, wrote Mr. Putin an email suggesting the name— with the help of his parents.
Dima and his family were invited to PM Putin’s Novo-Ogarevo residence, near Moscow, on Thursday night, to meet the puppy, according to The Voice of Russia.
Since Russia recently won the right to host the 2018 World Football Cup, Putin gave Dima a football with his signature on it.
“In 2018, you will turn 13, so you will most likely play in Russia’s junior team,” said Putin according to The Voice of Russia.
Buffy briefing:
- The PM said he’s growing daily
- Originally PM Putin said he wasn’t sure how his black lab Connie would interact with Buffy, but Connie was very “friendly” while Buffy likes to pull Connie by the ears, he said.
- The Voice of Russia reported that the PM says Buffy is a “pushy guy.” He like to open the door by running and getting on his hind legs to then push the door open.
Posted in: Posted, Uncategorized, World
Read more: http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/12/13/vladimir-putin-re-names-new-puppy-buffy/#ixzz185qWDhoY
Batman’s Robin made an important address to the nation on Tuesday. Medvedev is still dealing with the population crisis that has plagued Russia since the 1990′s. But, I will refrain from calling Putin “Batman” from now on– according to an interview that will air on CNN he was very upset by the statements in WikiLeaks about his relationship with Medvedev– his response?
“It is intended to slander one of us,” Putin said, according to a transcript on CNN’s website.
“The truth is that this is about our interaction, which is an important factor of domestic politics in our country.But to be honest, we did not suspect that this would be expressed so arrogantly, with such rudeness and, you know, being so unethically done.”
Medvedev preaches population
increase for a stable Russia
- Reuters) – President Dmitry Medvedev called on Tuesday for increasing social support to help resolve what he called Russia’s “demographic crisis.”
Elspeth Lodge November 30, 2010 – 5:01 pm
On Tuesday, President Dmitry Medvedev said in his annual address to the nation that Russia’s stability depends on a population increase and the well-being of Russia’s youth demographic. He charted a road map to recovery, which involved encouraging Russians to build larger families and to strengthen family values.
President Medvedev even added incentives: Russian families with three or more children could benefit from an extra 3,000 rubles ($100) a month from the government and free land to build a home.
He spoke of ways to deal with Russia’s approximately 130,000 orphans, reported Business Insider.
“Guardianship must be directly focused on child placement in families and helping foster families,” Medvedev said. “There should be no un-adopted children in our country,” said Medvedev, reported RioNovosti.
In further attempt to protect Russia’s youth, he says all convicted child offenders must be banned from the Russian education sector and anyone caught abusing a child will face the harshest of consequences.
The countries economic future could be at stake, BBC Cites in a Jan., 2010 prediction. Low population predictions were a key factor in the analysis, which showed Russia’s economy progressing more slowly than China’s, Brazil’s and India’s over the next 20 years.
Russia suffers from the 178th lowest birthrate in the world.
Vladimir Putin and Leonardo DiCaprio become BFFs at tiger summit
Elspeth Lodge November 25, 2010 – 4:25 pm
Will Leonardo DiCaprio make Saint Petersburg, Russia a regular travel destination? And has Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin adopted the American actor as his new best friend?
Reuters
Putin and DiCaprio enjoy some manly talk over tea and pastries.
Mr. Putin welcomed Mr. DiCaprio to Russia for the first time this week. The occasion? A five day “Save the Tiger Summit.”
The two animal lovers came together for a common cause— and after chatting they soon found they had much more in common than just a passion for tiger conservation.
Mr. Putin believes that he and Mr. DiCaprio share some very admirable qualities — the first: they are both “real men.”
Mr. DiCaprio arrived at the summit late, due to two separate instances of plane trouble.
Mr. Putin was in the middle of a speech when Mr. DiCaprio finally arrived at the summit, he stopped his prepared speech immediately, and said “I would like to thank you for coming despite all the obstacles,” reported BBC News; “A person with less stable nerves could have decided against coming, could have read it as a sign — that it was not worth going.”
Mr. Putin had taken Mr. DiCaprio’s arrival as proof of his strength of character — he had “literally torn his way through to Saint Petersburg,” said Mr. Putin to the audience at the summit, reported Yahoo! News.
Mr. DiCaprio is a “muzhik!” declared Mr. Putin to the crowd — or “a real man!” the BBC reported, for his persistence.
Shouts of “Bravo!” rang out from the audience in response to all of Mr. Putin’s praises of Mr. DiCaprio.
Mr. Putin’s compliments are high praise for Mr. DiCaprio, as they come from a former KGB-er who has spent a lifetime concocting his image as a “real man” and “tough guy.” He practices judo, once shot a Siberian tiger with a tranquilizer gun, helped fly a fighter jet, burns rubber on the race track and uses very strong language during all of his speeches.
Mr. Putin already seemed smitten with Mr. DiCaprio, but he fell head-over-heels when Mr. Dicaprio referred to himself as “half-Russian.” Two of his late grandparents hailed from the country and he had always wanted to bring his grandmother to Saint Petersburg, reported BBC.
Mr. Putin was thrilled by his long lost countryman and said “I’m sure when you get to know Saint Petersburg you will be proud of your Russian roots.”
Then there are photos showing the two new friends, Mr. Putin and Mr. DiCaprio, two “real men” talking intimately and telling stories about tigers over tea.
Mr. DiCaprio spoke of his involvement tiger protection projects–and the actor is giving over $1-million to the effort. He also told Mr. Putin of his trips to India, Indonesia and Nepal.
Posted in: Posted, World Tags: Vladimir Putin, Russia, tiger, Leonardo DiCaprio
Putin’s puppy love: Russian PM gets suggestions for new dog’s name
Elspeth Lodge November 24, 2010 – 1:53 pm
When Putin first received his puppy, he held his new fluffy family member in his arms and looked down at it lovingly–he hugged it close to his chest and kissed it on its small, wet-little nose, reported Risnovosti.
Public displays of affection for the puppy and a recent announcement that he is letting the public help name the new puppy has some wondering, is Putin using the pup to gain popularity in advance of a 2012 presidential campaign?
Novinite.com, the Bulgarian news agency believes this is a possibility. While some Russians are heavily criticizing Putin — saying it’s all a PR stunt — many Russians have responded with an overwhelming amount of patriotic enthusiasm. The public has jumped at the chance to help “re-name” Yorgo — the Bulgarian Karakachan puppy the prime minister recently acquired as a gift from Bulgarian Premier Boyko Borisov.
According to novinite.com the 
leading name (right now) in the polls is “Balkan.”
The Russian government has kept the public updated on popular suggestions with updates on their website. They cite Russian names like Ros (Russia is called ‘Rossiya’ in Russian), Rus or Rossi. They say the author of the last suggestion explained that it was meant to suggest both the word ‘Rossiya’ and the name Carlo Rossi, the famous Italian architect whose works adorn St. Petersburg and its suburbs. Another suggestion, they say, was Nabur, an acronym of the phrase ‘nadezhda na budushchee Rossii’ (which means ‘hope for Russia’s future’).
Other popular name suggestions were related to popular people and things associated with Bulgaria, the puppy’s homeland. Some popular suggestion include Bratko, Shipka, Theodore (a Bulgarian tsar) and Perets (‘perets’ is the Russian word for pepper, and bell pepper is widely known in Russia as ‘bolgarsky perets’ – ‘Bulgarian pepper’).
Names also popped up having to do with Russian-Bulgarian relations. On this vein the Federation cites Borus (a contraction of ‘Bolgaria’, the Russian spelling of Bulgaria, and Russia) and Brin (Bulgarian-Russian initiatives).
Even some foreign language names were mixed in the pot: Svyat (‘world’ in Bulgarian), Mahbub (‘beloved’ in Arabic), Kraft (‘force’ in German), Caro (‘dear’ in Italian) and Kuri, an edible Japanese chestnut.
Besides the new pup, Putin is also the proud owner of a young Siberian tigress, a cat, two poodles, a she-goat and her offspring, a horse, a Persian gazelle, a crystal crocodile and a Labrador retriever, reports Rianovosti.
