Jul 7th, 2006 · Russian President Vladimir Putin is explaining why he kissed a boy on the stomach. The President -- who commands several thousand nuclear weapons -- encountered tourists at the Kremlin. Videotape shows him lifting the shirt of a five-year-old to kiss him. He told reporters Thursday that the boy seemed "vulnerable" and "I felt an urge to squeeze him like a kitten." It's not clear if Putin also blew a raspberry. But the boy now says he wants to be president.
Keywords: nuclear · president · boys · commander · weapons · videotape · Squeeze · Kremlin · Presidency · passion · tourists · Raspberry
Jun 22nd, 2006 · In a remote region of Russia's Arctic Far North, residents say they're the latest victims of President Putin's drive to reshape his county into a global power. Last month, authorities jailed the region's governor, Alexei Barinov, on charges of fraud and embezzlement. But citizens say the move was part of a plan.
Keywords: county · global · Fraud · residents · region · citizen · victims · Russia · governors · remote · President Putin · Putin
May 23rd, 2006 · Russia's President Vladimir Putin puts the customs service under the control of a trusted ally as part of an anti-corruption drive. Ten law enforcement officials have been fired in the initiative. Many observers believe the moves are not really about fighting corruption, but actually reflect turf battles between Kremlin factions.
Keywords: corruption · law · services · Russia · Kremlin · customer · Factions · enforcement · crackdown · Putin · President Vladimir Putin
May 10th, 2006 · Russian President Vladimir Putin takes a swipe at Western critics in his State of the Nation speech Wednesday, accusing them of hanging on to outdated prejudices. His remarks seemed to be a response to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, who last week accused Russia of using its energy reserves as "tools of intimidation or blackmail." Western analysts agree, saying Moscow is pursuing a grand strategy to ensure total control over supplies to Western and Asian markets. They say gas is Moscow's "new nuclear bomb" - and that the Kremlin sees Washington's attempts to break its grip on pipeline routes as a pretext for a new Cold War.
Keywords: national · Vice President Dick Cheney · nuclear · speech · energy · Washington · Russia · Moscow · pipeline · supplies · Strategy · Kremlin
Dec 30th, 2005 · Russia assumes leadership of the Group of Eight industrialized nations in January. Vladimir Putin's role will be a major pinnacle of a presidency devoted to trying to re-establish Russia's status. But western countries are troubled by his growing authoritarianism.
Keywords: national · critic · countries · Russia · leadership · industries · Presidency · Reins · Vladimir Putin · pinnacle · Group of Eight · Putin
Dec 26th, 2005 · Liberal opposition figures in Russia have been lining up behind Vladimir Putin's former prime minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, who has announced he will run for president in 2008. As big-name politicians abandon their old alliances for Kasyanov's, it seems there's a chance of real opposition to Putin and his supporters.
Keywords: minister · politics · alliance · president · Russia · supporters · Opposition · liberals · 2008 · lining · Vladimir Putin · Putin
Aug 1st, 2005 · The next parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia won't take place until 2007 and 2008, respectively. Yet campaigning for both contests already has begun. President Vladimir Putin is not eligible to run again, and that's creating possibilities for other candidates.
Keywords: elections · politics · presidential · Parliamentary · 2007 · Russia · candidate · campaign · era · 2008 · Putin · President Vladimir Putin
Jan 2nd, 2005 · NPR's Jennifer Ludden talks with Andrew Jack, outgoing Moscow bureau chief for the London-based Financial Times newspaper, about his new book Inside Putin's Russia.
Keywords: newspapers · bureau · London · Russia · Moscow · restoration · Financial Times · empire · Jennifer Ludden · Putin · Andrew Jack · Inside Putin
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