Bare-chested Vladimir Putin strikes a macho pose (Gay Icon?)

Timesonline ^ | 4 Aug 09 | Tony Halpi

[Daffynition]

Frankly, I wouldn't call him ghey to his face.

The portrait of Vladimir Putin as a woman which got artist arrested by secret service

A Russian artist was arrested by the secret service after depicting prime minister Vladimir Putin as a woman. Painter Alexander Shednov, also known as Shurik, portrayed the former president in a tight, low-cut dress with long hair and large hoop earrings.

He said the image was a protest against Putin - who fosters a reputation as a strongman - trying to return to the Kremlin for a third presidential term.

In the top left hand corner of the picture Shednov shows his subject saying: 'Oh I don't know - a third Presidential term? It is a bit too much....on the other hand, three is a charm.'

The artist had attempted to beam the portrait onto the main administrative building in Voronezh, his home city, on Russian Independence Day last Friday.

But Shednov's endeavour did not go down well with the FSB, which replaced the KGB as Russia's intelligence agency.

He was arrested by counter-intelligence officials, claims he was questioned for seven hours and beaten.

Friends said his flat had also been searched and some of his paintings removed.

Shednov now faces a charge of inappropriate behaviour and is due before a court.

Critics will see it as the latest evidence of intolerance by the authorities to harmless protests and freedom of expression in Russia.

There is no legal obstacle to Putin standing for a third term in office if the current president Dmitry Medvedev stands aside or in the next scheduled election in 2012.

[Hoffer Rand]

PUTIN ON THE RITZ. That should really up his status as gay icon.

[TheOldLady]

I wish I were a VK. Will they let me zot if I buy the t-shirt and the plush toy?

[TheOldLady]

Well, check the legs. All the men I have seen at the beach or in shorts — brothers, cousins, boyfriends, strangers — have hairy legs, at least from the knees down. My brother Richard had lots of foliage all over his torso, arms, etc., but my brother Bruce had just a bit of fluff on his chest.

Also, you might want to be circumspect about checking out other men’s legs at the beach. ;-)

[colorado tanker]

Also, you might want to be circumspect about checking out other men’s legs at the beach. ;-)

LOL! I'm not gonna ask to see Vlad's legs! :-))

[TYVets]

That’ll take him down a peg.

I say Putin could manage more than a 55 foot girlie "fast ball".

[Daffynition]

[Migraine]

Vying with baraq for bitch-tit...

[cyborg]

You win the thread.

[Tijeras_Slim]

"Let's Learn Macrame with Tijeras_Slim"...

That's got a nice ring to it!

I thought about sending a copy to David Carradine, it might have prevented tragedy.

[trisham]

One of my old boyfrieds

Frying. :)

[TheOldLady]

LOL! Thanks!

[9YearLurker]

Yech! Really, can these pasty, saggy, middle-aged, bare waxed male chests actually appeal to anyone...even if you are gay? I think Helen Thomas in either of their places would be more interesting.

[Hardastarboard]

I’d want to be WAY more cut up than that to pose without a shirt. Ugh.

[sushiman]

Putin looks great for soon to be 57 . THESE are man boobs !

[La Lydia]

Please. No more. I give up. Anything you say.....

[Blackyce]

“I think Helen Thomas in either of their places would be more interesting.”

I would kiss Putin on the lips before I’d subject myself to a shirtless Helen Thomas.