Russia: Putin compares cranes to anti-Kremlin protesters
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 9 September 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: Putin compares cranes to anti-Kremlin protesters, 9 September 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5052e2d523.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 09, 2012
President Putin's flight with cranes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has mocked the protesters who have demonstrated against his return to the presidency in recent months by comparing them to the young cranes that he helped learn to migrate last week.
Putin, speaking at the closing of a summit of Pacific rim leaders in Vladivostok, said that, like the protesters, some of the young cranes refused to follow him.
Russian television on September 6 aired footage of Putin leading orphaned chick cranes in flight aboard an ultralight aircraft.
He said the ones who did not follow him were "the weak ones."
"Of course, there are some birds who do not like to fly in a flock and prefer to nest individually," Putin said.
"But what can we do? Even if they are not in our flock, they are still members of our breeding population and should be treated with care."
Putin's flight was overshadowed by the reported deaths of two of the birds.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website