Komsomolskaya Pravda: "Medvedev and Putin playing badminton"
Yesterday, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the first half of the day. Like President Dmitry Medvedev, he was in Sochi this week.
The weather was good and the chief executives decided to discuss urgent issues in the open air. Both were dressed casually. The president was wearing a black T-shirt and black denims, and the prime minister was in a blue shirt and blue denims. Both sported sneakers and sun glasses.
At first, Medvedev and Putin went to the embankment and took a walk along the pier. Then they returned to the residence and continued their conversation while drinking tea on the porch. The president's golden retriever, Aldo, accompanied them the whole time. Aldo fawned over the president and the prime minister in turn. After tea, Medvedev and Putin went back to the sea, took a walk along the shore and got into an electric cart. Medvedev drove, and Putin sat beside him. Aldo tried to find room at their feet, but suddenly changed his mind and tried to jump out of the car.
"Would you like to take a walk with us? Better go with us!" Medvedev said to his dog. Putin patted the dog on its neck, while the president pushed the accelerator. The cart stopped by the fitness center. They decided to play a set of badminton, and a net was put up on the court. But the game could not be described as intense because Aldo the dog was determined to play as well.
"Let's play! Here is a bird for you. It's a present! Medvedev threw an extra bird to the dog. But this did not dissuade Aldo who did not want to quit the game. When the bird fell on Putin's side, the dog was the first to catch it. Putin tried to take it from Aldo but the dog wouldn't let him and started to run.
"Sit!" Putin ordered the dog. Aldo obediently came back to Putin. The dog lay down instead of sitting and let Putin have the bird.
They did not keep score because both were pressed for time. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was supposed to visit Medvedev, while Putin was to attend a meeting on national projects.
Incidentally, Aldo, the curious retriever, not only accompanied the chief executives during their walk but also visited with journalists. Wagging his tale in a friendly manner, he suddenly ran into the press center, which is located a distance from the main house. Apparently, at the host's direction, security had given the dog complete freedom.
Yelena Krivyakina
