NEWSLINK: Plaudits vie with “pensioner” jibes as Russia’s Putin turns 60

Plaudits vie with “pensioner” jibes as Russia’s Putin turns 60 – Reuters – Alissa de Carbonnel – October 7

click here for original article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/07/us-russia-putin-birthday-idUSBRE8940ZW20121007

Reuters covers how both supporters and opposition detractors marked Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 60th birthday.

The ruling party’s loyal Young Guard movement published a video on its website portraying Putin as the ultimate ladies’ man, waited on by a gaggle of long-legged women. Other events around the country played on the tough-guy image that has been core to Putin’s political appeal.

Anti-Putin activists say he won a third term despite protests alleging elections have been rigged and ridiculed the birthday festivities as a personality cult.

They ditched plans for a major march through Moscow but a handful of activists were detained for staging a “Let’s send Grandpa into retirement” action near Red Square.

Critics say the former KGB spy’s reluctance to enact reforms and a series of moves to suppress dissent since returning to the Kremlin in May echo the political repression and economic stagnation associated with the Brezhnev era.

Putin brushed off criticism in an interview with a pro-Kremlin television channel aired on Sunday.

click here for original article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/07/us-russia-putin-birthday-idUSBRE8940ZW20121007