Putin gone fishin’ while his henchmen order people to like him

Moscow: Russian officials have helped organise a wave of rallies calling for Vladimir Putin to stay on as president after his second term ends next year, according to two documents obtained yesterday.

Putin, 55, has vowed to step down in accordance with the constitution but signalled he will keep a grip on power, maybe by winning a seat in parliament and becoming prime minister.

But a movement calling for him to stay on as president has been gaining strength with politicians, officials and even one Oscar-winning film director calling on Putin not to go.

Tens of thousands of Russians, many holding photographs of Putin and waving banners saying "Putin is our president", held rallies in regional cities calling for him to stay in power.

Putin, by far Russia’s most popular politician, has been careful to spin ambiguity around his plans for 2008, in what some see as an astute move to prevent himself becoming a lame duck before the end of his presidential term.

Attendance at the recent meetings, presented on state television as bursts of support for the Kremlin chief, was partly organised by officials in at least two cities, according to copies of documents.

"On October 27 at 1200 local time there will be a meeting in support of President V.V. Putin," said a telegram from local railway bosses to workers in the Siberian city Novosibirsk.

"Organise participation in the meeting by workers and pensioners and members of their families in the following numbers," the telegram reads.

It then says how many people from each department should go to the meeting. Passenger Carriage Depot Number 7 had to ensure at least 80 people turned out for the meeting.

Another letter, from the head of the education authority in the city of Tver, north of Moscow, told students and teachers from 55 schools to support a rally held last week.

"On October 24, 2007 there will be a meeting as part of the all Russian action in support of the Russian President," the educational authority told teachers and students in a letter dated October 22.

"I order… the heads of educational establishments to provide for participation in the meeting."

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