For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
A bronze bust of Russian president Vladimir Putin – in the style of a Roman emperor – will be unveiled next month to honour his supposed ability “to bring order and end wars”.
The statue will be unveiled as part of Russia's anniversary celebrations of the allied victory over the Nazis.
Andrey Polyakov, the leader of the St Petersburg Cossack group Irbis – which champions traditional Slavic values – said that the sculpture, for which the clay mold has been completed, will be installed near Parnas station in north St Petersburg.
9 controversial Putin quotes
Show all 9
“Such a remarkable event in the history of Russia such as the accession of Crimea has to be immortalised,” Polyakov told news agency Nevskye Novosti yesterday.
“I believe that Putin is one of our brightest, positive heads of state we have had in the last hundred years or so. This is a man who is worthy to have a monument in his lifetime.”
“This is the man who brought order and to stop wars in the Caucasus, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transnistria,” he added.
The listed territories in neighbouring nations Georgia and Moldova were home to separatist wars that were reportedly backed by Russia.
Putin was accused last month of funding separatist fighters in east Ukraine – which he denies – despite seeming to back the rebels in the battle for Debaltseve.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies