http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/06/vladimir-putin-spokesman-urns-staged?newsfeed=true Vladimir Putin's chief spokesman admits Greek urn find was staged Archaeologists who had discovered ancient amphorae planted them in shallow water for Russian PM, says Dmitry Peskov Vladimir Putin's claim to have discovered the urns was widely ridiculed in the Russian blogosphere and independent media. Photograph: Ria Novosti/Reuters Vladimir Putin's apparently remarkable discovery of two ancient Greek urns on the floor of the Black Sea during a scuba-diving expedition was staged, the Russian prime minister's chief spokesman has admitted. In an unusually candid glimpse into the cultivation of Putin's macho image, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said archaeologists had planted the amphorae in shallow water for the politician to find. The widely publicised incident in the Kerch Strait in August was ridiculed in the Russian blogosphere and independent media as yet another of Putin's photo opportunities. In video footage of the dive, Putin holds two fragments of what are said to be sixth-century BC amphorae and says "the boys and I found them" in about 2 metres (6 feet) of clear water. In an interview on the Dozhd TV channel on Tuesday, Peskov finally confirmed widespread suspicions that the find was a set up.
The only redeeming value Putin has is his love of dogs. Other than that, there is no reason for God to leave him on Earth.