Putin’s Crowd Revealed as Extras by Bodyguard Gaffe
It’s rather amusing, isn’t it, when carefully constructed illusions begin to crumble, not with a bang, but with a whispered, off-mic instruction? The recent incident involving Vladimir Putin’s purportedly adoring crowd, inadvertently labeled “extras” by a bodyguard’s radio chatter, certainly fits that bill. This moment, caught seemingly by chance, throws a rather unflattering spotlight on the staged nature of public displays of affection for the Russian leader, especially in these tense times.
The reported gaffe occurred during Putin’s visit to Kazan, a city in southwestern Russia, a rare foray outside the usual Moscow and St. Petersburg circuits. This was purportedly Putin’s first “public” walkabout in quite some time, and his first visit to a Russian region beyond the capital areas in seven months.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood