Putin To Fly Cranes To Freedom In Hang Glider

In another extravagant publicity stunt, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to fly previously captive cranes to freedom.

By Yulia Bragina, Sky News Producer In Moscow

Wednesday 5 September 2012 19:43, UK

Facebook mock up of Vladimir Putin riding a shark shirtless
Image: Users of social networks like Facebook were quick to mock up images
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Vladimir Putin is going to personally lead a flock of previously captive cranes to freedom by flying at the front of their formation in a hang glider.

The ambitious and expensive project is called The Flight of Hope.

According to the director of the crane sanctuary, Putin will be wearing a white robe, helmet and possibly a beak to make the cranes think he is one of them.

The Russian president may also use an audio player playing female crane noises to make the flock trust him more.

Russia's internet community was incredulous at the news at first, thinking it was another hoax report which appear on a daily basis.

Vladimir Putin cartoon over reports he will lead a flock of cranes by flying in a hand glider
Image: Sergei Elkin's cartoon with Mr Putin saying: "I am an alpha crane."

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Medvedev's cat Dorofei was trending on Twitter when people thought it ran away and that the Moscow police was deployed to track down the feline.

It turned out to be a completely different story this time.

Mr Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov actually confirmed he was learning to fly the hang glider and that he is going to visit Yamal on his way to the record-breakingly expensive APEC summit.

The extravagant and symbolic publicity stunt has provoked widespread ridicule in Russia.

#TheCranesAreFlying, the name of a popular Soviet film, is widely used by Russian Twitter users to discuss the topic.

Within minutes illustrator Sergei Elkin's cartoon depicting Mr Putin wearing a crane costume appeared on the internet.

In it, he is saying: "Let's decide once and for all. I am an alpha crane."

Facebook users are airbrushing famous naked torso pictures of Vladimir Putin on horseback on top of the most unfit for riding animals, including sharks.

According to the Levada centre, Mr Putin's approval rating declined to the same level as in December last year when the biggest anti-government rallies in Russian modern history took place/

The United Russia Party plans to introduce amendments to the law on slander, allowing authorities to punish web users for "humiliating" and "untruthful" comments.