Sergei Skorobutov, a former public relations officer, has shed light on the media strategies that were primarily focused on promoting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. He stated, “Our task was to publicize Shoigu. The Russian Geographical Society was essentially created for this purpose. I was frequently asked: ‘Sergei wants his name to be heard everywhere.'”
In recounting past events, Skorobutov mentioned an incident in 2011 when Vladimir Putin allegedly discovered ancient amphorae while diving in the Sea of Azov. According to Skorobutov, these amphorae had been deliberately placed in shallow water by museum staff for Putin to ‘find’. This was confirmed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, although archaeologists refuted the claim, asserting that the amphorae were commonplace in the area. Expedition leader Vladimir Kuznetsov emphasized to BBC News that the president’s discovery was unsurprising, as the seabed was filled with such artifacts.
Furthermore, the same PR team facilitated a notable event in 2012 where Putin flew on a delta plane alongside Siberian cranes, a rare species he purportedly helped to rescue. Skorobutov noted that this flight was particularly significant as it resulted in Putin injuring his back during the landing. “The landing was not very successful. Putin hurt his back, which has since become a significant health issue for him. I was told that he underwent several nerve block procedures due to debilitating pain that hindered his mobility,” he revealed.
According to Skorobutov, public appearances by Putin were rare, as the majority of projects were designed to enhance Shoigu’s public image. He recounted how budgets were allocated, projects initiated, and the entire media strategy constructed around Shoigu. Notably, he indicated that businesses, state companies, and oligarchs were pressured to support the Russian Geographical Society under the implicit threat of associating with Shoigu and Putin.
Context
- In September 2012, Putin was dubbed the “leader of the cranes” after participating in the “Flight of Hope” experiment at the Kushvat ornithological station in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. This initiative aimed to teach captive-bred cranes how to fly by following a delta plane.
- During this event, Putin completed three flights, with the first being a familiarization flight and the subsequent two involving the cranes. He was dressed in a white robe and helmet, and it was initially planned for him to wear a special beak, but this idea was ultimately discarded.
