Vladimir Putin becomes a laughing stock: Russians giggle at President as press conference leaves him humiliated

Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference was thrown into disarray after messages embarassing the Russian President appeared on screen.

The 71-year-old was told to "quit" in multiple messages which apearred on giant screens behind him, while he was also accused of not living the same "reality" as the rest of the country.

And in another bizarre turn during the event, an AI video of Putin even asked the President whether he used body-doubles to go about his duties.

In total about two million questions were submitted for answering, according to state media.

The annual press conference gives Russian journalist and ordinary citizens the opportunity to put their questions directly to their leader.

While Putin answered phone calls from a number of Russians, some questions submitted via SMS flashed up on screens behind the him.

With the carefully choreographed event falling about, messages which did not suit the narrative of the Kremlin started to appear among the mix.

Quite true. Being a dictator has great job security, but a transition to retirement is dodgy. Close observers of Putin's Russia describe his key role as being a mediator and peace keeper between the powerful economic and political interests that collectively control and loot Russia. These include the so-called siloviki, the "men of power" who run Russia's military, police, and intelligence agencies.

There were analysts who, months ago, described Putin's bungling of the Ukraine invasion as causing great distress among the siloviki. Heavy troop casualties, purges of military and security service leaders, the decline of Russia's military reputation, and the reinvigoration of NATO are heavy marks against Putin.

For Putin, one of his nightmares must be to be ousted and killed like Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. He was reelected as dictator in 1989 as discontent simmered. In December of 1989 though, Ceaușescu went from dictator to dead in a matter of days. The key moment was when a routine public appearance went wrong as a crowd erupted in insults and abuse.

Ceaușescu ordered his troops to fire, which touched off riots, his flight for safety, capture by the army, and trial and death by military execution. The entire episode took less than a week and was touched off when the Romanian security services stirred up the initial outburst of public derision.

Perhaps this fiasco of a press conference is a warning to Putin to change course, but I think it is more likely to be notice from the siloviki that, like Ceaușescu, even if reelected, Putin will not be permitted to remain in power and will be ousted violently if necessary. If I am correct, then events will move quickly as Putin stands down from reelection and Russia contrives a successor.

For the life me, I can’t understand how Putin can be your hero.
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He is not my hero, he is the President of the Russian Federation, and he is simply outsmarting corrupted, senile Joe and his gang sitting in the White House, at every turn.

I can’t for the life of me understand how senile Joe can be your hero, and that goes for corrupted St Zelensky.

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