'The Naked Murderer' Sitting on a Golden Toilet Holding a Toilet Brush... The Birthday Gift Received by 70-Year-Old Putin

'Naked Killer' Sculpture Appears in Prague, Czech Republic
Belarus and Tajikistan Presidents Gift Tractors and Fruit

On the 7th, a sculpture named "Naked Killer" appeared in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, where an informal European Union (EU) summit was being held.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Su-mi Hwang] Gifts prepared to celebrate the 70th birthday of Russian President Vladimir Putin have drawn attention worldwide. While pro-Russian countries have been sending congratulatory messages and gifts one after another, a sculpture intended to mock President Putin appeared in the Czech Republic, where an informal European Union (EU) summit is being held.

According to major foreign media on the 8th (local time), a sculpture named "The Naked Murderer" was erected in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, the day before. The name, reminiscent of the well-known fable "The Emperor's New Clothes," depicts President Putin sitting naked on a golden toilet.

This was created with the intention of mocking President Putin, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday. The Czech Republic, the rotating presidency country of the European Union (EU) this year, is known as a representative country condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At the beginning of the war, it suspended visa issuance for Russian tourists along with Poland.

Previously, a group in the Czech Republic also attracted attention by exhibiting a similar statue of Putin. The statue, which appeared last month in front of the Russian Embassy in Prague, shows Putin sitting on a golden toilet holding a toilet brush in his right hand and toilet paper in his left. The toilet is also labeled "The Naked Murderer."

On the 6th (local time), the traditional doll Matryoshka factory Azna in Voznesenskoye, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, produced dolls to celebrate President Vladimir Putin's 70th birthday.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Amid a flood of criticism toward Russia for invading Ukraine, mainly from Western countries as well as the Czech Republic, pro-Russian countries have sent birthday congratulatory messages and gifts to President Putin.

According to foreign media including BBC on the 7th, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko announced that he prepared a tractor gift certificate for President Putin's 70th birthday. Known as "Europe's last dictator," he is recognized as a close ally of Putin and a strong supporter of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On that day, while visiting Saint Petersburg, Russia, to attend the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit, he told reporters, "It is the best handmade product from Belarus that I use." According to the BBC, this specially ordered tractor is currently being assembled by the Belarusian company Minsk Tractor.

Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon sent a pile of melons and watermelons as a gift to Putin. A photo taken at the Konstantinovsky Palace, the venue of the CIS summit, shows the melons and watermelons brought by President Rahmon stacked pyramid-style outdoors.

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un also sent a congratulatory message celebrating President Putin's 70th birthday. In the congratulatory message released by the Korean Central News Agency on the 7th, Kim said, "I sincerely send warm congratulations on your 70th birthday."

He added, "Today, Russia crushing the challenges and threats from the United States and its followers and firmly defending the dignity and fundamental interests of the nation cannot be separated from your outstanding leadership, strong will, and determination."

He also said, "You have held the important position of head of state for a long time and have carried out vigorous activities, achieving remarkable results to realize the grand strategic goal of building a strong Russia, earning high respect and support from the masses," and "I hope you remain healthy and happy and achieve great success in your responsible work for Russia's prosperity."