Why Did Vladimir Putin’s Reward to Allies Set off Lord of the Rings Jokes?

December 30, 2022 World Wide
Vital factors
  • Vladimir Putin introduced rings to the leaders of the post-Soviet international locations allied with Moscow.
  • Eight international heads of state obtained the rings, whereas the ninth was saved by the Russian president.
  • In JRR Tolkien’s collection, antagonist Sauron provides rings to 9 kings as a way to enslave them and bend them to his will.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has bestowed eight gold rings on Moscow-allied leaders of post-Soviet international locations, prompting jokes and comparisons to the power-hungry tyrant Sauron from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Throughout a summit in Saint Petersburg on Monday and Tuesday, the leaders of eight international locations obtained gold rings exhibiting the symbol of the regional group, the Commonwealth of Unbiased States, engraved with the phrases “Russia” and “Completely happy New Yr 2023.”

Mr. Putin saved the ninth ring for himself.

Of the international leaders, solely Alexander Lukashenko, the strongman from Belarus, was pictured with the reward.
Some political commentators, resembling outstanding political scientist Ekaterina Schulman, stated the reference to JRR Tolkien’s epic fantasy trilogy was intentional.

In Mr Tolkien’s traditional, Sauron provides rings to 9 kings to enslave and bend them to his will.

A photo of the rings, a gift from Russian President Vladimir PutinA photo of the rings, a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced the heads of state of the Commonwealth of Unbiased States with eight rings engraved with the phrases “Russia” and “Completely happy New Yr 2023”. Sources: Twitter

Ever since Mr Putin despatched troops to Ukraine in February, Ukrainian authorities have recurrently in contrast Russia to “Mordor,” the dominion of Sauron, and Russian forces to “Orcs,” the troopers of Sauron.

At first look, the presentation of the rings looks as if a “fever dream”, wrote Ms. Schulmann.

“It was performed on goal in fact,” she added on messaging app Telegram.

A man in a Sauron costume from Lord of the Rings stands at a fan expo surrounded by onlookers.A man in a Sauron costume from Lord of the Rings stands at a fan expo surrounded by onlookers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has given Moscow-allied leaders of post-Soviet international locations eight rings which were in comparison with the rings in Lord of the Rings, drawing comparisons to the character Sauron from the favored collection. Sources: Getty / Martha Ivanek

One other political commentator, Yulia Latynina, known as the presents “rings of impotence,” an obvious reference to Putin’s rising worldwide isolation over his assault on Ukraine.

“Any state whose ruler dons this ring will flip into darkness dominated by a madman,” quipped Ms. Latynina.
“I believe Putin will put on the ring alone. And never for lengthy.”

Jokes in Ukraine significantly loved poking enjoyable on the Kremlin chief.

“Putin was fed up with being the Hitler of the twenty first century and determined to play Lord of the Rings,” wrote Ukrainian politician Oleksiy Goncharenko.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated there was no have to learn an excessive amount of concerning the that means of the presents.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin poses for a photograph with heads of state of the Commonwealth of Unbiased States in Saint Petersburg on Monday. Sources: Getty / Konstantin Zavrazhin

“It is only a New Yr’s memento, there’s nothing particular about it,” he stated.

Mr Putin is not going to put on his ring, he added.

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