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| Putin's action-man holiday album | Putin's action-man holiday album |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The images are meant to portray a man who is in charge By James Rodgers BBC News | The images are meant to portray a man who is in charge By James Rodgers BBC News |
| The Tuva holidays of Vladimir Putin - the title of a summer blockbuster film? | The Tuva holidays of Vladimir Putin - the title of a summer blockbuster film? |
| The name of a thriller about an ex-KGB officer just trying to enjoy a quiet life, but who keeps getting drawn back to solve problems which defeat everyone else? | The name of a thriller about an ex-KGB officer just trying to enjoy a quiet life, but who keeps getting drawn back to solve problems which defeat everyone else? |
| No, but there might be something to thatÂ… | No, but there might be something to thatÂ… |
| It is actually the headline which the website of one of Russia's leading news agencies, Ria Novosti, put above a selection of official photographs of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin enjoying a summer break in a remote region of Siberia. | It is actually the headline which the website of one of Russia's leading news agencies, Ria Novosti, put above a selection of official photographs of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin enjoying a summer break in a remote region of Siberia. |
| Putin dives world's deepest lake Putin 'shoots' Siberian tiger Learn judo with Putin Profile: Vladimir Putin class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6841">Are you as adventurous as Putin? | |
| Mr Putin is shown standing on a rocky mountain slope; resting in the branches of a tree; swimming in a river; riding a horse. | Mr Putin is shown standing on a rocky mountain slope; resting in the branches of a tree; swimming in a river; riding a horse. |
| In most of the photos, he wears military-style clothes and boots. In the equestrian shots, he is shirtless. | In most of the photos, he wears military-style clothes and boots. In the equestrian shots, he is shirtless. |
| In a country where most men do not live until the age of 60, Mr Putin stands out as an example of someone who has looked after himself. | In a country where most men do not live until the age of 60, Mr Putin stands out as an example of someone who has looked after himself. |
| Smoking and drinking are big factors in Russia's low male life expectancy. | Smoking and drinking are big factors in Russia's low male life expectancy. |
| Mr Putin will be 57 in October. He looks in better physical shape than many Russian men 20 years his junior. | Mr Putin will be 57 in October. He looks in better physical shape than many Russian men 20 years his junior. |
| His media team want to make sure that message - like Mr Putin's chest - does not remain hidden. | His media team want to make sure that message - like Mr Putin's chest - does not remain hidden. |
| The implication, obviously, is that he knows how to look after the country too. | The implication, obviously, is that he knows how to look after the country too. |
| To anyone fed up with their father/husband/boss dragging himself out of bed, or going to work so hung over he does not really know what he is doing, these pictures say: "At least there is one man who is in control". | To anyone fed up with their father/husband/boss dragging himself out of bed, or going to work so hung over he does not really know what he is doing, these pictures say: "At least there is one man who is in control". |
| Lost in translation | Lost in translation |
| That is important for the prime minister, whose main task is to steer Russia through the storms of economic crisis. | That is important for the prime minister, whose main task is to steer Russia through the storms of economic crisis. |
| Putin's equestrian skills were not the only things on display | Putin's equestrian skills were not the only things on display |
| It also serves as a reminder that he has in no sense become less active since ending his time as president. | It also serves as a reminder that he has in no sense become less active since ending his time as president. |
| The suggestion is that he would be in good shape to go back to the top job in 2012 if that is the way things turn out. | The suggestion is that he would be in good shape to go back to the top job in 2012 if that is the way things turn out. |
| The Kremlin either does not know, or does not care, how these pictures will be seen by some people in the West. | The Kremlin either does not know, or does not care, how these pictures will be seen by some people in the West. |
| The photographs of a bare-chested Mr Putin riding a horse through mountain scenery may of course put some people more in mind of a recent Hollywood film about gay cowboys. | The photographs of a bare-chested Mr Putin riding a horse through mountain scenery may of course put some people more in mind of a recent Hollywood film about gay cowboys. |
| That is not the message these pictures, and those of previous years, send out to the majority of Russians. | That is not the message these pictures, and those of previous years, send out to the majority of Russians. |
| In Russia, they reinforce Mr Putin's image as a man many men aspire to be, and - as a recent pop song suggested - many women aspire to be with. | In Russia, they reinforce Mr Putin's image as a man many men aspire to be, and - as a recent pop song suggested - many women aspire to be with. |
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| Putin the prime ministerial pin-up | Putin the prime ministerial pin-up |