Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was presented with a small clay handicraft boat steered by a bear figurine by members of the Kirov Region branch of the ruling United Russia party during his visit to the region on Thursday.
Kirov is one of 12 Russian regions that will elect regional legislative assemblies on March 13.
Putin said the boat, which also had other figurines on board, symbolized that "we are all in one boat, and that the bear is the one at the helm."
The bear is a symbol of the United Russia party. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's surname also comes from the Russian world "medved" meaning "bear."
"I think it was just a coincidence, but this is a nice symbol for United Russia," Putin, the party leader, said.
KIROV, February 4 (RIA Novosti)
