Russia’s ruling tandem of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have put on a new show of unity ahead of elections by going fishing and taking a joint dive in the river.
The carefully choreographed footage of two leaders – both potential candidates in March elections that will likely only feature one of the two men – appeared aimed at removing suggestions of a brewing political rivalry.
The Kremlin published photographs on its website of the pair standing side-by-side with fishing rods in their hands and then both grinning broadly while out on a casual stroll.
State television then released images of the two men diving in green wetsuits in the murky waters of the Volga River in the southern region of Astrakhan.