The Russian president has been compared to the fictional character Sauron after presenting an unusual gift to the leaders of eight post-Soviet states.
KEY POINTS
- Vladimir Putin has gifted rings to Moscow-allied leaders of post-Soviet countries.
- Eight foreign leaders were gifted the rings, while the ninth was kept by the Russian president.
- In JRR Tolkien’s series, antagonist Sauron gives rings to nine kings to enslave them and bend them to his will.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted eight golden rings to Moscow-allied leaders of post-Soviet countries, sparking jokes and comparisons with power-hungry tyrant Sauron from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
During a summit in Saint Petersburg on Monday and Tuesday, the leaders of eight states received golden rings showcasing the emblem of the regional organisation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and feature the engraved words ‘Russia’ and ‘Happy New Year 2023.’
Mr Putin kept the ninth ring for himself.
What could happen with Russia and Ukraine in 2023 and how could it impact Australia?
Of the foreign leaders, only Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko was pictured wearing the present.
Some political commentators such as prominent political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann said the allusion to the epic fantasy trilogy by JRR Tolkien was intentional.
In Mr Tolkien’s classic, Sauron gives rings to nine kings in order to enslave them and bend them to his will.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted eight rings to heads of state of the Commonwealth of Independent States with the words “Russia” and “Happy New Year 2023” engraved on them. Source: Twitter
Since Mr Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February, the Ukrainian authorities have regularly compared Russia to “Mordor”, the kingdom of Sauron, and Russian forces to “Orcs”, the soldiers of Sauron.
At first glance the gifting of the rings looks like a “fever dream”, Ms Schulmann wrote.
“It was of course done deliberately,” she added on messaging app Telegram.
Another political commentator, Yulia Latynina, called the gifts “rings of powerlessness,” an apparent reference to Mr Putin’s growing international isolation over his assault on Ukraine.
“Every state whose ruler puts on this ring will turn into darkness ruled by a madman,” Ms Latynina quipped.
“I think Putin will wear the ring alone. And not for long.”
Wits in Ukraine had particular fun mocking the Kremlin chief.
Jacinda Ardern wins over US fans, reveals she auditioned for Lord of The Rings
“Putin got tired of being the Hitler of the 21st century and decided to play Lord of the Rings,” wrote Ukrainian politician Oleksiy Goncharenko.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no need to read too much into the meaning of the gifts.
“It’s just a New Year’s souvenir, there’s nothing special about it,” he said.
Mr Putin will not be wearing his ring, he added.
