A German auction house is putting up for sale a mechanical figurine of Russian President Vladimir Putin signing into law Russia's annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol.
The auction house, Auction Team Breker, posted a short video of the puppet in action on its official YouTube channel on Sunday. At a height of 20 inches, the Russian president is shown seated at a small writing desk with a quill pen and old-fashioned lamp, his head turning from side to side as he reads the document he is about to sign, the "Treaty of Acceptance of the Republic of Crimea Into the Russian Federation."
The original treaty was signed by Putin in March, after 96.77 percent of Crimeans voted in favor of reunification with Russia following a hastily organized referendum on the Black Sea peninsula.
The artist who created the mechanical Putin, Swiss puppet maker Christian Bailly, is known for his expensive — and wildly complicated — creations, made using an intricate system of spring-driven cogs and gears. One of his earlier puppets, the Bird Trainer, had a price tag of more than $6 million.
Bailly's doll, titled "Putin Ecrivain" ("Putin the Writer"), will go on the auction block on Nov. 14-15 at a specialty auction in Cologne. The asking price has not yet been announced.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
