Vladimir Putin is holding his traditional end-of-the-year press conference. With a record 1,700 reporters from Asia, Europe, the US and the Middle East having been formally accredited for the event, many have opted for rather peculiar ways to stand out in the crowd and attract the Russian president’s attention.
"This journalist is 'looking for happiness', expecting Putin to give him the word as she holds a banner featuring a kiss sign", one Twitterian shared, accompanying the post with a picture. The image notably shows a second poster raised by a journalist explicitly stating his decisiveness to be heard: “Won’t ask – won’t go!”
Aquí una periodista "buscando suerte", a ver si con una pancarta con un beso #Putin le da la palabra… pic.twitter.com/j8do12xeQ1
— María Sahuquillo (@mrsahuquillo) 20 декабря 2018 г.
Another picture, posted by CNN Moscow journalist Mary Ilyushina, features Alexander Malkevich from the newly sanctioned media outlet USA Really donning a T-shirt with the following inscription in Russian: "I am a simple Russian journalist; it took 19 FBI agents to ‘get me’".
“Am a simple Russian journalist, it took 19 FBI agents to “get” me” Alexander Malkevich from USA really, sanctioned by US yesterday, spotted at #Putin annual press conference pic.twitter.com/LokgJL7dER
— Mary Ilyushina (@maryilyushina) 20 декабря 2018 г.
Another journalist appeared to have turned up at the annual press conference wearing a massive fur hat and a pair of boxing gloves, whereas her Volgograd colleague attempted to play upon the pervasive pre-Christmas mood and win the president’s attention by wearing a Snow Maiden costume.
Limbering up for the annual #Putin press conference… it’s all about getting attention to ask a question… pic.twitter.com/7g9AB0kOmQ
— Ian Pannell (@IanPannell) 20 декабря 2018 г.
Journalistin Diana von einem Internetportal aus Wolgograd hat sich als Schneemädchen verkleidet, hofft, dass #Putin sie sieht, alles besser wird bei ihr in der Region #PutinPresser2018 #Russland pic.twitter.com/QBEXOFA97I
— Christina Hebel (@hebelowski) 20 декабря 2018 г.
That time of year in #Russia again: #Putin ‘s annual marathon press conference is about to begin.
— Patrick Reevell (@Reevellp) 20 декабря 2018 г.
This journalist dressed as a snow maiden is hoping to ask about corruption in her local funeral services. pic.twitter.com/L3zKB9LifA
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A pair of journalists, meanwhile, opted for a more explicit way of getting across the idea of the urgency of their questions: they put on high-visibility yellow vests, like the ones worn by protesters in France, to draw the president’s attention to the issues of the newly introduced pension reform and rise in fuel prices. "Paris is awaiting us", a banner in their hands read.
Auch die Gelbwesten sind bei #PutinPresser2018 — diese Kollegen würden sich eine Antwort von #Putin wie von #Macron auf die Proteste wünschen, sie wollen den Präsidenten zur Rentenreform und steigende Benzinpreise fragen pic.twitter.com/wHsD1k1mhw
— Christina Hebel (@hebelowski) 20 декабря 2018 г.
Some openly stated that the press conference is much like a show of traditional ethnic outfits, adducing pictures of the most eye-catching headgear and clothes worn today by mass media representatives, a hockey helmet, the traditional Russian head band kokoshnik, etc. One Twitterian even noted, tongue-in-cheek, in comments that the Papuans with rings in their noses are perhaps the only ones missing at the "exotic" festival.
Папуасов с кольцом, или с пером в носу не хватает… Экзотика, среди ряженых…
— ☆★Котофей Котофеевич★☆ (@POLARSTAR681) 20 декабря 2018 г.
Кажется, журналисты спутали пресс-конференцию с Фестивалем этнического костюма pic.twitter.com/vMDWsVDfKW
— Путин говорит (@CzarSays) 20 декабря 2018 г.
