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Notwithstanding the fact that he has sneered at the US, scoffed off at its might and even abhorred the Americans, Russian President Vladimir Putin has still joined the ranks of Mahatma Gandhi, Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa as the Washington-based journal Time named him the ‘Person of the Year’ for 2007.
Now, the Russian President, who aspires to become the country’s Prime Minister after his present term as the President ends in May 2008, will appear on the cover of a special edition of Time.
Putin is the second Russian to be named the Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ after Mikhail Gorbachev who received the honor twice in 1987 and 1989, in his journey to bag the reputation.
The Russian President overcame competition from Chinese President Hu Jintao, former US Vice-President Al Gore and the Harry Potter series author J K Rowling. Time said that it honored Putin for his endeavor in ending bedlam in Russia and placing the country on the ‘table of power’ again.
Heaping praises on the Russian President, Time said that Putin had led Russia from chaos to control with determination and diligence. Although the magazine hailed Putin for being the embodiment of the spirit of ‘Mother Russia’, it made no mention of the reported suppression of the Opposition in his country.
The journal also overlooked the recent parliamentary polls in Russia, that has been severely criticized by the European nations for being ‘biased and manipulated’ while honoring the Russian leader, who it said possessed great visions.
Time, however, acknowledged that Putin had destroyed democracy in Russia, but said that it still chose to honor him because ‘he had great influence on the recent global events – whether good or bad’. According to Time’s managing editor Richard Stengel, Putin is certainly not a good guy, but has done astonishing things and that’s why Russians admire him.
Meanwhile, people in the corridors of power in Russia expressed their happiness over Putin’s new achievement and have pointed out that President too was overwhelmed as the Time ‘Person of the Year’ honor will earn him the respect and regard of the international community – something Putin cherishes most.
Soon after Time made an announcement in this regard, Putin’s chief spokesman Dmitry Peskov endorsed its choice, saying, "Under Putin's leadership Russia has re-emerged as a constructive and reliable partner in shaping international relations."
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