At the Seliger-2011 youth forum, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin scaled a rock-climbing wall without any safety equipment, promised to lose weight and was presented with two rolled-up frying pans as a gift.
At the Seliger-2011 youth forum, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin scaled a rock-climbing wall without any safety equipment, promised to lose weight and was presented with two rolled-up frying pans as a gift.
Vladimir Putin arrived at the Seliger-2011 youth forum in a helicopter.
At the forum, the prime minister met Nikita Italyantsev who, after losing 35 kg in one year, now weighs 113 kg. He told Vladimir Putin about his accomplishments, who replied that it takes willpower to achieve such success, and promised to lose half a kilo over the next year.
While touring the camp Vladimir Putin approached a rock-climbing wall, where a climber, secured by a rope, was training. The prime minister observed the climber and then decided to climb half way up himself without any safety equipment.
One of the journalists proposed filming a documentary about a routine day in the life of the prime minister. Surprisingly, Vladimir Putin did not object and suggested setting a date.
Vladimir Putin also met representatives of a bodybuilding, power lifting and endurance sports club.
Club members demonstrated their strength by squatting 300 kg and rolling up two frying pans with their bare hands, which they then gave to the prime minister as a gift.
One of the Seliger-2011 forum participants proposed making the legal drinking age 21, and enacting harsher punishments for vendors who sell alcohol and tobacco to minors. The prime minister suggested that the issue of cigarette and alcohol abuse among young people be discussed by his colleagues in the Popular Front as part of their preparation for the parliamentary elections.
At the Seliger-2011 youth forum, the prime minister took part in the creation of the most complete World War II video archive in the world, and told the forum participants about his father, a war veteran. Putin talked to the creators of the Your War Movie project while sitting by a military-style dugout. Putin said that his father had volunteered a few days after the beginning of the war, and went to the front even though he had exemption from active duty as he worked at a defense plant. He was able to escape almost certain death twice, and rescued his wife from sieged Leningrad.
During the meeting with forum participants, the prime minister yet another time avoided the question of whether he would run for president in 2012. He was asked whether he plans to come to the Seliger youth forum next year, and if so, in what capacity. The prime minister responded by asking, “Tell me honestly, are you interested in having me here, talking with me, in hearing my questions to you and my answers to your questions?” Then he added, “Does it really matter to you in what capacity I’m here today?”
“No,” responded the participants together. “Well, here’s my answer to your question,” said the prime minister.
“No,” responded the participants together. “Well, here’s my answer to your question,” said the prime minister.
With increased frequency, journalists continue to inquire whether Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin will be participating in the presidential race in March 2012. Clear answers have not yet been provided.
Photo: Vladimir Putin answering questions at the Seliger 2011 youth forum. On his right, actor and film director Fyodor Bondarchuk.
