A bridge to Russian-annexed Crimea was the president’s snub to the West. But a cat stole the show and is now is a Kremlin-backed superstar.
By Amie Ferris-Rotman Amie Ferris-Rotman Moscow reporter for the Washington Post. Email Bio Follow March 7 at 5:00 AM TAMAN, Russia — Mornings are spent walking amid the latest construction work. Lunch is a bowl of hand-peeled jumbo shrimp, fed one by one. By evening, Mostik settles down in one of his favorite huts, with hard hats and piles of paperwork for company.
“The case of Mostik is an unsophisticated example of Russian propaganda aimed at humanizing the Russian annexation of Crimea,” Ukrainian lawmaker Viktor Yelensky told The Washington Post. “We don’t know what’s the bigger attraction — the bridge or the cat,” said Mostik’s veterinarian, Alexandra Lukyanova, who gives him a monthly checkup at her clinic in Taman, a tiny port town straddling the Black and Azov seas, and where the Russian side of the bridge begins.
Special-edition metro tickets picturing the bridge were issued in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and billboards of beaming construction workers popped up across the country, carrying the messages “This is my land!” and “This is for my children!” When Putin inaugurated the bridge in May, in a flashy event showcasing his authority, Mostik rode four trucks behind him. Videos showed the cat on the dashboard of a Russian-made Kamaz, luxuriating in a strip of sunlight.
They say Mostik is his own master, but an investigation this year by the Russian media outlet Proekt said he is part of the Kremlin’s PR machine. According to the report, Mostik’s image is promoted by Danila Gromov, the son of Putin deputy chief of staff Alexey Gromov.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
For Kremlin, Ukrainian election a choice between lesser of three evilsBefore Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in east Ukraine, Moscow had ...
Read more »
Russia will 'respond' to 'new threats' created by Trump's space militarization, Russian army official warns'Russia will have to respond with reciprocal and asymmetrical measures,” warned Russian Army General Valery Gerasimov.
Read more »
Putin spokesman mocks Trump-Russia investigations as 'laughable' and 'less and less serious'“There have been so many investigations like these that their significance has been devalued,' Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said.
Read more »
Vladimir Putin warns that spies are “trying to influence events” in Russia, tells his security services to do betterVladimir Putin warns that spies are 'trying to influence events' in Russia, tells his security services to do better
Read more »
Russia says will prevent US military intervention – Venezuela crisisUS was among the first countries to recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as legitimate leader, arguing President Nicholas Maduro's May 2018 re-election was a sham. Maduro accuses Guaido of being a coup-mongering puppet for US President Trump.
Read more »
Russia wants to unplug its internet from the rest of the world. Is that even possible?Russia wants to tighten its control over the internet by passing a law to allow the Kremlin to temporarily pull the plug whenever it wants. The bill has so far passed in the Russian parliament's first reading, but critics of the proposed law say Russia lacks the technical abilities to pull it off.
Read more »
Russia could deploy missiles capable of targeting 'whole territory of European countries,' ambassador warnsRussian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov warned that Russia would “be forced” to deploy missiles capable of targeting all of Europe if the U.S. were to place new missiles on the territory of its European allies.
Read more »
Former Trump White House lawyer calls Mueller 'American hero,' says probe is no witch huntTy Cobb, the veteran Washington attorney who represented the White House as special counsel Robert Mueller ramped up his investigation into Russian meddling, said he considers the man leading the probe “an American hero” and does not share President Donald Trump’s view that the Russia inquiry is a politically
Read more »
Chick-fil-A's fried fish sandwich is returning to menus for LentChick-fil-A's fried fish sandwich is returning to menus for Lent 2019.
Read more »