Rattled Putin suffers PR nightmare following boxing match taunts
He may be more accustomed to State choreographed scenes of adulation and public respect but Russia’s most important man came crashing back down to Earth as he was greeted by boos and whistles when congratulating the winner of a martial arts tournament.
Putin suffered the ignominy in front of thousands of baying fans, registering a moment of shock as the taunts rang out.
Despite later regaining his composure opposition members in the country are already daring to hope that the tide may be turning against their autocratic regime.
Elections are due to be held in just a fortnight’s time amidst growing evidence that the popular appeal Putin has thus far cultivated is rapidly evaporating amidst a deteriorating economic picture.
State TV later played footage of the event having edited out the catcalls from the audio track but the unedited version has already garnered over half a million hits on YouTube.