Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Super Putin of Russia Featured in Istanbul


Mon 17 Feb 2020 | 08:59 PM
Yassmine Elsayed

A Russian artist unveiled 4 huge paintings of Russian President Vladimir Putin featured him as a super hero, in the center of Istanbul, Turkey, saying he wanted to show "good connections" between Ankara and Moscow despite differences over Syria and other files.

Shortly after Alexander Donskoy revealed the paintings of the Russian president on Istiklal Street, local authorities removed them in Turkey's largest city, saying he had not received permission to show them there.

Speaking to "Reuters",  the Russian artist known for his satirical portrayals said: “Currently, we have an exacerbation of relations with Turkey,” artist Alexander Donskoy told Reuters. “So, I show here, right in the center of Turkey, on its main street where the Russian embassy is at, that Putin is Russia.”

“I wanted to draw attention to how Putin is taken in Russia: like a superhero. So I wrote on portraits ‘Putin is superhero’,” Donskoy said.

Recently, dispute have emerged between Russia and Turkey over the Syrian army field progress in Idlib, northwestern Syria, which is supported by Moscow, against angry Turkey which sets observation posts in Idlib to monitor ceasefire for what it says "would stop the flood of immigrants to Turkish lands".

Turkey and Russia back opposing sides in the Syrian war but have collaborated to seek a political solution, while forging close ties in the defense and energy sectors.

Donskoy said he wanted to provoke emotions in people passing by the paintings and see their reactions. He said he planned to hold more exhibits elsewhere, including in the United States.

“There will be more in the countries of Western democracy. So I will show that the Russian people consider sanctions against Putin like sanctions against themselves,” he said.

“So, I am an ambassador of peace.”