Putin had a forest photoshoot in Siberia for his birthday, and it's the most majestic propaganda you'll see today
Putin's love of nature is well-documented by the Russian media. So it made sense that he spent the weekend in the Taiga woods in Siberian mountains, before celebrating his 67th birthday.
On a video that was released with the photos, looking out over the region, Putin said, "We've climbed above the clouds."
Source: The Telegraph
He was accompanied by a photographer, because of the serious photo opportunities. The Kremlin is well-known for releasing fawning propaganda.
Source: Business Insider
It's not easy to look comfortable lying on a rocky mountainside, 6,500 feet above sea level, but Putin does his very best.
Source: Sputnik News
Putin foraged for wildflowers and mushrooms. Here, he appears to admire some pine cones.
Source: News.com.au
Flowers in hand, Putin took a moment to look out wistfully over the mountainous region.
Compared to some of Putin's earlier vacation photo-spreads, where he shot at a gray whale with a crossbow, or collared a polar bear, this year's outing was a little less heroic.
Source: The Telegraph
To match the gentle pace of this trip, Putin was equipped with binoculars and walking poles.
Putin was also accompanied by his defense chief Sergey Shoigu. Here, the Russian leaders admire some mushrooms they found. The Moscow Times reported that recent speculation says Shoigu, who is from the region, could be Russia's next president.
Sources: The Moscow Times, News.com.au
Later the pair rested and had some tea. Last year, Putin celebrated his birthday with former Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi, and he celebrated another birthday with China's leader Xi Jinping, where they dined on sausages and vodka.
Source: The Telegraph
With Putin's ratings sitting at the lowest they've been since 2001, it looks to be a long walk home. Luckily, he took with him a pine cone to remember his iconic mountainside wander, while Shoigu took a cowberry bush he plans to plant at his country home.
Sources: Sputnik News, The Telegraph
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