Congratulations by phone: how Putin celebrates his birthday
Even on his birthday, Putin is not appreciated in the West. The Kremlin, however, wants to show the Russians that it is not isolated in the war of aggression. And so the media described how the Russian president received several high-level phone calls on his birthday.
Moscow. On the occasion of his 71st birthday, Russian President Vladimir Putin received telephone congratulations from the heads of allied countries and held foreign policy talks. The head of the Kremlin called on Saturday the presidents of Belarus, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan as well as the head of the Armenian government, Russian agencies reported.
Putin met personally with Presidents Shavkat Mirsijoev (Uzbekistan) and Kassym-Shomar Tokayev (Kazakhstan). From his residence in Novo-Ogarjowo, near Moscow, they kicked off deliveries of Russian gas to Uzbekistan, in Central Asia, via Kazakhstan. Putin's contacts, praised by state media, should show Russians that their country is not isolated despite the war of aggression against Ukraine.
For Putin, this is the 20th anniversary as president, the state agency Tass wrote – not counting the four years during which he handed over the post to Dmitry Medvedev while continuing to preside over Russia's destiny in as Prime Minister. Officially, it was said that Putin celebrated his birthday rather privately, with his family and acquaintances.
Since 2006, Putin's anniversary has also been the death of journalist and Kremlin critic Anna Politkovskaya. She was shot dead in Moscow by unknown assailants. The context has never been clarified.
RND/dpa
Question 1: How did Putin celebrate his birthday?
Answer 1: Putin celebrated his birthday by receiving telephone congratulations from the heads of allied countries. He also held foreign policy talks and met personally with several presidents.
Question 2: Which presidents has Putin phoned with?
Answer 2: Putin spoke on the phone with the presidents of Belarus, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. He also spoke with the head of the Armenian government.
Question 3: Which presidents has Putin spoken to personally?
Answer 3: Putin met personally with Presidents Chavkat Mirzioyev of Uzbekistan and Kassym-Shomar Tokayev of Kazakhstan.
Question 4: How many years has Putin been president?
Answer 4: Putin celebrated his 20th anniversary as president. However, this does not include four years during which he handed over the post to Dmitry Medvedev, while continuing to preside over Russia's destiny as prime minister.
Question 5: Why is Putin's birthday also the anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya's death?
Answer 5: Since 2006, Putin's anniversary has also been that of the death of journalist and Kremlin critic Anna Politkovskaya, shot dead in Moscow by unknown assailants. The context has never been clarified.