Vladimir Putin (L) and World War II veteran Valentin Gavrilov smile during a ceremony of presenting jubilee medals in honor of the 70th anniversary of the victory in the World War II to WWII veterans.....The medal-smothered chests of Russian officials have long been a subject of ridicule.
Leonid Brezhnev, the doddery Soviet leader, was in hospital, went one joke. "His heart again?" "No, chest expansion surgery, to make room for one more Gold Star."
But Valentin Gavrilov looks like the real deal. The 91-year old retired colonel caught attention on Friday when he was pictured receiving a jubilee medal in honour of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Second World War.
The award was given by Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, during a ceremony in the St George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
Nostalgia for Soviet military glory and recognition of the immense sacrifice of soldiers and civilians during the war are enduring narratives in modern Russia. In October a record military budget of 3.3 trillion roubles (then £50bn) was announced for 2015.
No comments:
Post a Comment