Crowd Boos Putin after Mixed Martial Arts Fight

[RZM]

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been publicly booed and whistled for the first time on Sunday. The unprecedented rebuke took place after a mixed martial arts bout between the Russian fighter Fedor Emelianenko and the American Jeff Monson. Putin stepped into the ring to congratulate Emelyanenko as he took on Monson; however, he faced whistling and booing from fight fans gathered at the Olimpisky sport center in the center of Moscow.

Some state-run TV channels like Rossia and Channel One changed the sound in newscasts showing only fans' greetings without whistling and booing.

Putin's supporters claim the incident is beneficial for Russian opposition activists, saying that the negative fans' reaction was aimed at Monson, who was leaving the ring.

Kristina Potupchik, spokesman for state-run youth organization Nashi, has another version – she says the whistling was for the event's organizers who would not let the fans go to the toilet.

http://en.gazeta.ru/news/2011/11/21/a_3841482.shtml

UK papers have the story as well:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2064342/Vladimir-Putin-booed-Moscow-martial-arts-fight-TV-coverage-shows-CHEERED.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8903512/Crowds-boo-Vladimir-Putin.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/20/putin-booed-moscow-martial-arts-fans

[qb]

1. Perhaps he's been too uppity?

:sarcasm:

[HopeHoops]

2. Well why didn't Putin get in there and kick the shit out of both of them?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

3. No, they weere chanting. "POOOOO-tin, POOOOO-tin!!!!".

:evilgrin:



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