Fawning’s state-of-the-art hosts praise Putin’s ‘miraculous reactions’ to ‘great physique’ and ‘martial arts skills’ … after Russian leader stops PENCIL from scheduling
- Putin, 68, grabbed a pencil before turning off his desk at a virtual meeting
- Fine motor skills were addressed in a weekly prime-time slot dedicated to the director
- TV guest amazed at president ‘clearly in good shape’
- The President of Russia has cultivated a macho image and a black belt in judo
Vladimir Putin’s physical ability has been praised by TV hosts after he stopped a pencil from rolling off the edge of a table.
The 68-year-old Russian leader, known for riding a bare-breasted horse, swimming in frigid lakes and his black belt in judo, has been confined to the Kremlin for much of the pandemic.
But that didn’t stop him from showing his loyalty as he grabbed the diving pencil at a virtual meeting to the delight of state TV sycophants.
‘His ideas were brilliant and he is clearly in good shape – his martial arts skills have not left him,’ said host Vladimir Solovyov, a Moscow presenter. Kremlin. Putin. a program to be broadcast in prime time on Sundays.
Renowned for his sporting abilities, 68-year-old Vladimir Putin grabs a pencil before going off the edge of his desk at a recent high-profile meeting.
The president showed off his fine motor skills as he grabbed the pencil just as he approached the edge of the table.
Host Vladimir Solovyov (left), Moscow presenter. Kremlin. Putin program, delighted by the usual piece of photography
Solovyov then turned to his guest to ask if he had ever tried such a move and the man replied that he had not.
‘Pavel, you have to exercise as much as you can,’ Solovyov advised a colleague, surprised when he grabbed Putin’s pencil.
The program, launched in 2018, is previously accused of building a Soviet-style personality cult around Putin.
He has previously commented on the president’s kindness to children, his body and even joking that the former KGB officer is afraid of bears.
The snippet was mocked on social media, including on Twitter – whose speeds were clamped by the Kremlin last week over ‘illegal’ material.
‘If Putin hadn’t captured that pencil, he would have been captured by a NATO soldier,’ one Russian user joked.
Blogger Oleg Kozyrev said: ‘Even the pencil wanted to get away from Putin.’
Putin has a black belt in judo, he is also capable of riding horses and ice skates
Putin was the first president to act on the last day of the 20th century, when his predecessor Boris Yeltsin resigned unexpectedly.
He has ruled Russia ever since and last year he went through constitutional changes that mean he can stay in power until 2036, by which time he will be 83.
It is still supported by a majority of Russians, 48 percent according to the Levada Center, despite recent complaints about the retention of a leader against Alexei Navalny.
Young people are the least likely to support it, with the number of people aged 18 to 24 saying they no longer supported it rising from 31 per cent to 46 per cent last year.