In Russia, they started selling calendars for 2026 with photos and quotes from the country's President Vladimir Putin. Each month corresponds to a certain image of the head of state, write The New York Times (translation of “Inosmi”).
The newspaper writes that before the New Year, calendars with pictures of famous people began to be sold in Russia. One such calendar is dedicated to Putin, who “appears in a multifaceted role as a leader-patron.”
The calendar follows a formula: each month features a photo of Putin and a short excerpt from his speeches and public statements over the past year.
So, in January, Putin could be seen on a sled in the park. The photo is accompanied by a quote: “Russia's borders don't end anywhere.”
In February, Putin threw his judo partner to the mat. The caption reads: “I am a dove, but I have very strong iron wings.”
The calendar also includes Putin's humorous advice: “Burying your head in the sand will be counterproductive, because somewhere else will still stick out.”
At the same time, the author of the article is sure that calendars with pictures of Putin in Russia are said to “hang everywhere”: “in classrooms, post offices and other government agencies, not to mention at home.”
In addition, the expert also commented on the calendars with Putin's image in a critical tone, believing that this is a “commercial project” (calendars are sold for 3.50 USD each), which is said to “symbolize” the Russian president.
“The idea of a ‘man for all seasons’ creates an image of Putin as an icon: super cool, completely in charge and generally a living embodiment of the daily lives of people,” said Fiona Hill, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.
