On Tuesday, this man, a popular Russian singer named Iosif Kobzon, said he was part of a group that had nominated Vladimir Putin for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Kobzon said Putin "deserves" the prize more than Obama, who won a Nobel in 2009.
Kobzon is kind of like a Russian Frank Sinatra. He's been belting it out for decades.
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He's also been haunted by allegations of links to the Russian mafia. He's been repeatedly denied a U.S. visa as a result.
But he and Putin get along. Kobzon is also a member of the Russian parliament, and Putin's given him a bunch of prizes.
Now it's Kobzon's turn. He told a Moscow press conference that he was a part of a group called "the International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation of Peoples of the World" that had nominated Putin for the Prize.
Some Russians weren't so into it. "Even if Putin stopped the war in Syria, I think his actions hide everything he is doing in Russia. What peace prize?"
Если даже Путин остановил войну в Сирии, то я считаю, что это действие не покрывает все то, что он творит в России. Какая еще Премия мира?
yana dεl sadness
@yanamiracle
ЕÑли даже Путин оÑтановил войну в Сирии, то Ñ Ñчитаю, что Ñто дейÑтвие не покрывает вÑе то, что он творит в РоÑÑии. ÐšÐ°ÐºÐ°Ñ ÐµÑ‰Ðµ ÐŸÑ€ÐµÐ¼Ð¸Ñ Ð¼Ð¸Ñ€Ð°?
The idea got lots of tweets of support. In completely identical language: "Putin prevented war. A prize would be logical #Putinisapeacemaker"
Путин предотвратил войну. Премия будет логичной #ПутинМиротворец
Талантище
@talahntishhe
Путин предотвратил войну. ÐŸÑ€ÐµÐ¼Ð¸Ñ Ð±ÑƒÐ´ÐµÑ‚ логичной #ПутинМиротворец
Путин предотвратил войну. Премия будет логичной #ПутинМиротворец
Сурок ФХ
@suroko_fx
Путин предотвратил войну. ÐŸÑ€ÐµÐ¼Ð¸Ñ Ð±ÑƒÐ´ÐµÑ‚ логичной #ПутинМиротворец
Путин предотвратил войну. Премия будет логичной #ПутинМиротворец
Julia1988 50
@julwia1988_50
Путин предотвратил войну. ÐŸÑ€ÐµÐ¼Ð¸Ñ Ð±ÑƒÐ´ÐµÑ‚ логичной #ПутинМиротворец
Good luck, Mr Putin.
Keep singing, Mr Kobzon.
