How patriotic are Russians – and how afraid of the wrath of Vladmir Putin? This news item from Russia’s Vremya newspaper offers some insight into Russia’s nationalistic soul.
For Vremya, reporter Sergey Anisimov writes in part:
Nizhny Novgorod Christmas ornament manufacturer Ariel has refused several requests from private companies to manufacture Christmas ornaments with the image of Vladimir Putin. Top managers of the company say that it’s impossible to trace the post-sale fate of products with portraits of the Russian prime minister, and so they’re willing to refuse a profitable order in the name of “preservation of reputation.” At the same time, the factory quietly produced a few hundred Christmas ornaments with the image of U.S. President Barack Obama.
As it turned out, depicting the Russian prime minister required clearance from representatives of the government apparatus. So far, no one has been willing to take responsibility for putting the image of Vladimir Putin on fragile Christmas toys. “We don’t know how private customers will use our product; perhaps these balls will hang on a Christmas tree in a bathroom somewhere? Here, people often drink on New Year’s Eve and don’t realize what they’re doing,” said Elena Tersinskih, explaining her concerns.
In turn, frustrated customers accused the company of jingoism and double standards, in effect saying, “you’ll depict the U.S. president on your products, but are afraid to show Russia’s prime minister.” … Nevertheless, the company’s management stands behinds its position on this question of principle “to the death.”
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