MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Halfway through President Vladimir Putin’s end-of-year press conference televised across Russia, he saw regional journalist Kirill Bazhanov, dressed in a red bow tie and holding a poster reading “I want to get married.
Bazhanov got his chance and moment.
“I know that my girlfriend is watching the press conference now. Olechka, marry me!” he said, drawing applause from the audience of mostly pro-government regional journalists.
Putin uses his hours-long TV marathon both as a forum for fiery foreign policy statements and to offer up all sorts of advice on love and family matters, recite poetry or promise to fix potholes.
Bazhanov, who went on to ask about a question about the high cost of living in Russia, was made to wait for his answer.
After an hour or so, the hosts interrupted Putin to deliver the happy news. Olechka had said yes. Cue fresh whoops and applause.
Putin did not respond to the invitation to attend the upcoming nuptials, but did offer to organize a whip-round.
“Kirill was just asking about the material conditions for young families. And that’s right — a man should be the breadwinner. Now we’ll pass the hat around and collect at least enough for the wedding,” he said.