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These are images that are supposed to convey normality, published by the Kremlin: Eight-year-old Raisat Akipova visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Since the uprising of the Wagner Group, this is the latest in a series of public propaganda events. The pictures are intended to show the Russian president as charming and caring.
In the presence of the eight-year-old girl, the president telephoned his finance minister to discuss additional budget funds for the Dagestan region.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia
»Raisat, say hello.«
Raisat Akipowa, student:
"Hello."
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:
"Do you hear that, Anton?"
Anton Siluanov, Minister of Finance:
"Yes, yes."
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:
"Why don't you answer? You're a well-behaved man, aren't you?
Anton Siluanov, Minister of Finance:
"I just thought it was a ..."
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:
"You thought it was a joke, right?"
The meeting with Raisat and her family has its origins in a visit by Putin to Derbent on the Caspian Sea at the end of June. The world marveled at a Vladimir Putin who takes a bath in the crowd and even allows kissing selfies. Once again, there was speculation about the use of a Putin lookalike. Normally, Putin always keeps a greater distance from other people for fear of attacks.
Putin told the girl that he invited her and her parents to Moscow because he was dismayed when he saw a picture of Raisat. The photo shows her in tears after not seeing him during his trip to Dagestan.
After more than 16 months of war of aggression in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is staging himself as a people-oriented, almost tame president. The Kremlin is trying to repair the cracks in the "Putin system" that have come to light as a result of the events surrounding the Prigozhin uprising with images like these.