Putin’s 2024 calendar reveals a dictator losing his grip on power He is preparing for re-election in March 2024 (Picture: AP/ shop.kp.ru)
Vladimir Putin has somehow kept his shirt on for the 2024 calendar set to go on sale soon.
This year’s edition seems to be lacking the overt machismo of those past, but the Russian president has still managed to parade his physical prowess.
Released by Russian media Komsomolskaya Pravda, it features photographs and the dictator’s most inspirational quotes.
But long gone are the days when his calendar set pulses racing as Putin appeared topless while horseback riding in Siberia in 2021.
The calendar mostly features old photos of the president (Picture: shop.kp.ru) The president having a drink during a break in a taiga forest in Russia’s Siberian region (Picture: AP)
A flick through from January to December reveals various images: Black belt Putin showing off judo moves; him posing with a class of youngsters practicing martial arts; him striding in front of a warplane.
Another one shows the warlord in a camouflage gilet in the Russian mountains.
The calendar was presented last week at the International Book Fair in Moscow, local media reported on Telegram.
The quotes create a portrait of a man who has reigned with absolute power over Russia for a quarter of a century, and remains undefeated – despite an attempted coup by the Wagner Group, and failures on the frontline in Ukraine.
Putin taking a break from state affairs ahead of his birthday in 2019 (Picture: Getty) One of the photos promoted his black belt in judo (Picture: shop.kp.ru) The calendar was released by Russian media Komsomolskaya Pravda (Picture: shop.kp.ru)
A photo of him in the traditional white uniform (gi) for judokas is accompanied by his words: ‘We do not know how to stand with our legs splayed apart, we firmly stand on our feet and firmly look into the future.’
It is yet unclear if this is the Kremlin’s official calendar of Putin, or an independent edition sold by the publisher.
But it comes ahead of a year in which Russia is expected to hold its presidential elections, laying the groundwork for the leader’s propaganda campaign.
Russians will head to the polling stations in March 2024, and according to Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesperson, the president will be re-elected by more than 90% of votes.
More: Russia
It is just the latest sign that the Kremlin is seeking to rig the presidential elections in his favour.
An August poll from the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) shows trust in Putin currently stands at 77.3%, according to the state news agency TASS, but experts have long disputes the accuracy of such research.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and moreThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
