In wartime, facing the biggest challenge to his authority since leading his country, with the invasion of Ukraine sparking the sharpest East-West standoff since 1962 and the Cuban missile crisis, the Russian president Vladimir Putin celebrates his 70th birthday today.
On his birthday, Putin will attend an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in St Petersburg, the once imperial capital, in an event designed to show that Putin is not isolated, despite widespread criticism of the war in Ukraine – many wished for Putin’s health from home and abroad, the German news agency dpa reported, relaying a cable from the Russian news agency TASS.
Patriarch Kirill urged the flock and clergy to dedicate two days of prayer for the health and longevity of Russia’s longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin. “God placed you in power,” the patriarch states in his message, praising the Russian president for “transforming Russia’s image, strengthening its sovereignty and defense capabilities, defending national interests”…
The Turkish president sent his best wishes Recep Tayyip Erdoganthe President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Tajikistan Imomali Rahmon and the leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un.
Kim emphasized that Putin “made achievements in the implementation of the great strategic goal of building a strong Russia through your energetic activities, assuming the heavy responsibility of the head of state for many years”, TASS reported.
He also noted that Putin “enjoys great respect and support from the broad masses of the world.”
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov sent a warm video greeting, noting that Putin has played a role in Chechnya for many years and helped liberate the region from terrorism.
The chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, wrote as a wish to the Russian president: “As long as Putin exists, Russia will exist.”
Source: News Beast
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