[Marxism] Putin's rape joke

[Lajany Otum]

A Russian journalist said Mr Putin joked that
President Moshe Katsav was a "mighty man", adding "we
all envy him".

Mr Katsav is facing allegations that he raped members
of his staff. He strongly denies the claims.

A Kremlin spokesman admitted Mr Putin made a joke, but
said it was not meant to be overheard.

Mr Putin's comment was made at the end of a press
conference held by Mr Putin and Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert in Moscow, which focused mainly on the
Iran crisis.

As the leaders prepared to leave, the microphone
caught Mr Putin saying "greetings to your president".

The microphone then went dead, but journalist Andrei
Kolesnikov told the BBC he heard the rest of the
comment.

He said the president continued: "What a mighty man he
turns out to be! He raped 10 women - I would never
have expected this from him. He surprised us all - we
all envy him!"

There reportedly followed loud laughter among the
official delegations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov admitted: "Yes really,
these words were pronounced."

But he said it "in no way means that President Putin
welcomes rape".

"The president was joking," he told the BBC's World
Today radio programme.

"Russian is a very complicated language, sometimes it
is very sensitive from the point of view of phrasing.

"I don't think that the proper translation is able to
reflect the meaning of the joke."

Israeli police have said there is enough evidence to
charge Mr Katsav, 60, over allegations of "rape,
forced sexual acts, sexual acts without consent and
sexual harassment".

He may also be charged with wire-tapping.

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6069136.stm>


		
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