By JAMES MARSON
MOSCOW—With Russia’s currency sliding to fresh lows and no sign of a let-up in fighting in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin is breaking with tradition and getting away from it all on his birthday Tuesday with a trip to Siberia.
The visit to the forests of the Siberian taiga will be the first time in more than 15 years that nature-lover Mr. Putin has taken a vacation on his birthday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agency TASS.
Mr. Peskov didn’t reveal exactly where the president—who will turn 62—will spend the day, beside saying that he’d be “300-400km from the nearest habitation” and “on the move.”
“It will just be a holiday,” Mr. Peskov told TASS, which recently reverted to its Soviet-era name. He gave few further details, and didn’t reveal whether the president intended to go fishing or hunting, or what drink the president would toast his birthday with, TASS reported.
Mr. Putin decided to take the vacation as he has had a busy year working “almost round the clock” at some times, the spokesman said, adding that the president would be on the way to his next engagement.
Mr. Peskov said Mr. Putin usually receives a large number of congratulatory letters. Presidential administration officials would, as usual, send their boss a telegram with “warm words,” he added.
Last year, Mr. Putin was treated to a rendition of “Happy Birthday” by the president of Indonesia, who was hosting an Asian economic summit.
Mr. Putin’s birthday comes amid Western sanctions on Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis. Ten years ago, relations between the neighbors were warmer: Mr. Putin spent his birthday with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. Several weeks later, street protests thwarted Mr. Yanukovych’s first bid for Ukraine’s presidency. He won in 2010, but fled to Russia amid more street protests this year.
With pollsters pegging Mr. Putin’s approval rating above 80%, his most loyal supporters will be able to celebrate with a T-shirt emblazoned with his likeness. Moscow’s GUM store began selling T-shirts and sweatshirts Monday showing the president playing hockey, fishing and with a leopard. State television showed one of him cuddling a dog, describing a “frenzy” of demand for this third collection of wearable presidential garb.
No comments:
Post a Comment