Not too long ago Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was filmed taking shots with a cross-bow at a whale. Now, he’s taking swipes at the Obama administration.
In a wide-ranging interview published August 30 in the Russian daily Kommersant, the 57-year-old Putin affirmed that he had no intention of leaving politics anytime soon and endorsed hard-nosed tactics to suppress political dissent.
He also professed a desire to strengthen US-Russian relations, even as he rapped Washington for what he portrayed as the unfriendly gesture of providing arms to Georgia, the South Caucasus state that tops the prime minister’s ‘enemies list.’
“I see that intentions to improve relations with Russia are clearly traced in today’s US administration,” Putin said. “But there is another thing. For instance, the further rearming of Georgia is in progress. Why?”
Giorgi Lomsadze is a journalist based in Tbilisi, and author of Tamada Tales.
Sign up for Eurasianet's free weekly newsletter. Support Eurasianet: Help keep our journalism open to all, and influenced by none.