Turkey has been pushing for control over Cyprus. Russia builds a 135-meter statue on the island on the same day (9/11/11) they knocked down the Grand Mosque in Moscow. I think Vlad is sending a message to the Turks. “You can pull that crap on Obama, but don’t try it here.”
This is an old fight. The Russians (when they WERE religious) were Orthodox, like the Cypriots.
No love lost between Muslim Turks and Orthodox anybodies.