Putin rape comments 'a joke'

Herald Sun ^ | 21 October 2006

[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.

[dforest]

Putin and Kerry, " The New Smothers Brothers"

[steve-b]

I think Dubya needs to see an optometrist before he tries to look for somebody's soul again.

[Scotswife]

I figured he was trying to say he previously tought this guy was whimpy or gay and is surprised to learn he is capable of rape...or...it was the vodka talking.

[GSlob]

Nah. As a chess grandmaster, he's WAY TOO LOGICAL.

[dynoman]

Ha Ha HA!

Thanks for your answers, I saw this news this summer but had forgot what your name was. I knew you had come from over there, anyway I ran across one of your posts yesterday and though I would ping you.

Would love to meet you someday.