Posted on 10/20/2006 5:52:15 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin was joking and not condoning rape when he commented about the virility of Israeli President Moshev Katsav, whom police suspect of raping female employees, the Kremlin said today.
Unaware a microphone was switched on during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Mr Putin called Mr Katsav a "mighty guy" and said: "Raped 10 women! I would never have expected that from him. He surprised us all. We all envy him."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Mr Putin had made the comments on Wednesday and said Russian humour did not always travel well across linguistic borders.
"It was a joke which did not have anything to do with the official part of the talks ... (and) was not addressed to journalists," Mr Peskov said.
"These words should in no way be interpreted as President Putin approving the possibility of this sort of crime. He takes a very negative view of that sort of crime," said Mr Peskov.
"It is not always possible to translate a Russian joke into another language in such a way that you convey its complete meaning."
Mr Peskov, accompanying Putin at a European Union summit in Finland, said Mr Katsav had not been convicted of any offence.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Putin is still in his KGB days...
Maybe I'm wrong, but I kind of figured he was being ever so slightly sarcastic about that.
What a shame. The Russians are well known for their great comedy and senses of humor.....right behind the Germans and Swedes.
context is everything, and like so many MSM quotes thrown out for purposes of damaging someone (a pope, for example), we are given none. Was it sarcasm? Indirect denigration of Olmert? Is putin known to like or dislike the guy? etc.etc.etc.
Some world leaders have class and some don't.
"The bombing starts in 5 minutes."
Now that was a class statement from a world class leader.
Sorry to say that we don't have that type of class anymore.
Anywhere.
Russian humor is quite WEIRD!!
If he "envies" Katsov, he must have worshiped Levrenti Beria. Rape was one of Beria's hobbies supposedly.
It is true that Russian humor is not so easily expressed in another language.
Well, at least he didn't call the guy a macaca.
The Swedes do have a sense of humor....but only when it comes to making fun of Norwegians.
Hey AD I know for a fact Vlady has low views on women
I had many conversations with a former co-worker, who was Russian. Here was an example of a "popular joke" when he was in the Soviet Army. Can't say it had me howling, but apparently it was quite funny there. First a visual aid, courtesy L. Brezhnev.
Comrade Brezhnev, I see you have many medals. What is this one for?
Hero of Soviet Union.
Ah, and this one?
Order of Lenin
I see. This is one quite nice. What was it for?
I woke up this morning.
Clearly!!!
Veryy clearlyyyy AD
I not surprise was he is KGB agent they have few low views on women I doubt there was any high ranking female KGB agents in Vlady times
So, are you excusing this as a matter of translation?
Well there goes the last bit of respect I had for Putin. How do you "mistranslate" his joking about raping women? Either P Bush should have looked deeper into his eyes or George needs his eyes checked.
What a frickin' brute.
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