Kremlin-watchers being what they are, immediately went into overdrive speculating if the exercise was aimed at Putin building up his personal popularity ahead of his deadline for stepping down after his second Presidential term next year, and maybe buck the Constitution.
At least one radio jockey suggested this on her talk show, and the radio station was quickly plastered with comments from female listeners expressing their admiration for the Presidential body.
Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin fishing in the Yenisei river in Tuva republic.
Photograph: Dmitry Astakhov/AFP/Getty Images
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