An experimental ice cream brand named ?€?Little Obama?€? has appeared on sale in the Russian republic of Tatarstan, the regional evening-kazan.ru news website reported.
?€?Obamka?€? (Little Obama) ice cream went on sale in the city of Naberezhnye Chelny in late April.
Deputy development director at the Slavitsa ice cream factory Rasil Mustafin, said that the name was not political but chosen due to the product's chocolate flavor. ?€?There's no political underpinning. We have no intention to offend anyone,?€? he said. ?€?Someone at the factory came up with the idea.?€?
The product designers were inspired by a Soviet-era cartoon, said the factory's financial director Anatoli Ragimkhanov. The show featured an imaginary island named ?€?Chunga-Changa,?€? inhabited by African children. ?€?We just like the name,?€? he said. ?€?It's so amusing.?€?
Only one batch of ?€?Obamka?€? ice cream has been produced for sale so far. The factory will keep the product based on the reaction of local consumers.
The Politrussia.com website reported that local residents have already been discussing the new product on social networks, suggesting a number of new polically-inspired brands, such as ?€?Little Erdogan?€? and ?€?Little Merkel.?€? The ?€?Erdogan?€? is to be caramel ice cream coated in milk chocolate and the ?€?Merkel?€? is to be vanilla ice cream coated in white chocolate, evening-kazan.ru reported.
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.