Putin Lands Giant Pike In Fishing Trip

Video broadcast by state TV shows the Russian president, keen on projecting an action-man image, fishing and patting deers.

Saturday 27 July 2013 03:20, UK

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Putin Lands Giant Fish In Siberia
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Vladimir Putin has landed a giant pike on a recent weekend trip to Siberia, the Kremlin said, in the latest stunt by the Russian president.

The Kremlin said Mr Putin was joined on the trip by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and both men were pictured in a relaxed mood during the weekend fishing expedition.

Mr Putin, 60, often resorts to outdoor stunts to prop up his ratings.

The recent photos showed the Russian president fishing, driving a motorboat and patting reindeers.

Putin stunt
Image: Earlier this month Vladimir Putin dived to the bottom of the Baltic Sea

The Kremlin said the pike weighed 21kg (46lb) and was shared with Mr Medvedev.

The two were shown in a video talk casually on a boat and smile as they drank tea together.

Some observers saw the expedition and resulting images as an attempt to prove Russia's top two remain unified despite reports of growing strains.