Russians celebrated their president's birthday with an outpouring of public adoration and kitsch iconography today.
Nationalist Russians snapped up Vladimir Putin T-shirts, before attending a number of choreographed shows of support staged across the country in honour of the long-serving statesman.
In Moscow, a bizarre one-day exhibition dubbed the '12 Labours of Putin' was held, in which the president was depicted as Hercules - battling Western nations disguised as serpents and monsters or taming an ox bearing the symbol of Crimea, the Ukrainian region annexed by Russia in March.
Putin as Atlas, holding up the world, in this painting from the 12 Labours of Putin exhibition
A woman snaps a photo of a painting showing Putin taming an ox bearing the symbol of Crimea
Here Russia's beloved president is depicted battling Western nations disguised as serpents and monsters
In Grozny, the capital of the restive republic of Chechnya, thousands carried a 650-yard Russian flag through the streets alongside an equally massive Chechen flag.
Others dressed in the red, white and blue of the Russian tricolor walked through the streets as an enormous human flag, many of them holding portraits of the Russian leader over their heads.
Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya's president, who also celebrated his birthday this week, wrote on his official Instagram account that there were 100,000 participants.
But Mr Putin was not around to appreciate any of it, having chosen to mark the end of his 62nd year in the wilderness of Siberia, some '300-400 kilometers (185-250 miles) from the nearest populated area,' according to his press secretary.
In Grozny, the capital of the restive republic of Chechnya, thousands carried a 650-yard Russian flag through the streets alongside an equally massive Chechen flag.
Others dressed in the red, white and blue of the Russian tricolor walked through the streets as an enormous human flag, many of them holding portraits of the Russian leader over their heads.
Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya's president, who also celebrated his birthday this week, wrote on his official Instagram account that there were 100,000 participants.
A column of people forming the Russian national flag march along a street in central Grozny during a rally in honour of Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin's always-high ratings have skyrocketed this year as he responded to a pro-European coup in Ukraine by seizing Crimea, and reacted defiantly to Western sanctions.
His approval rating remains at 86 percent according to the independent Levada Center, which conducted a poll in September with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent.
The support comes despite serious problems for Russia's economy, with Moscow's central bank today forced to prop up the beleaguered rouble.
As the Russian economy shuddered due to Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis, £1.1 billion was thrown at keeping the currency afloat over two days, reported Bloomberg.
The IMF gave a strong warning over the Russian economy saying growth would sink to 0.2 per cent for 2014, with a bleak outlook for next year, while analysts warned the rouble was under 'permanent pressure' and inflation was rising.
The currency has lost 14 per cent against the US dollar in three months.
Muscovites Jana and Albina (R) pose with Vladimir Putin t-shirts outside the GUM department store in Moscow
Albina puckers up next to the image of the Russian president stretched across her friend's bust
Hoodies and sweatshirts with an image of president Putin cuddling a dog on sale at the GUM department store
The men's version shows an ice-cool looking Putin with his shades on
Putin's always-high ratings have skyrocketed this year as he responded to a pro-European coup in Ukraine by seizing Crimea, and reacted defiantly to Western sanctions
Nevertheless, souvenirs decorated with Putin's face have become best-sellers on Red Square, while Russian designers have made him the theme of pricey T-shirts and sweaters.
Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, congratulated Putin on his birthday and said his tenure in office had become 'an integral part of national history.'
However, as the value of the ruble sinks under pressure from sanctions, some online commentators were less enthusiastic.
'The dollar is 40 (rubles), the Euro is 50 (rubles), and Putin is 62,' was one joke that spread across the web.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk
http://www.dailymail.co.uk
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