Vladimir Putin was left humiliated and appeared visibly rattled after being left on mute for more than 30 seconds while trying to kick off a major speech to world leaders. Russia’s president realised his mic wasn’t working as it should at the International Forum on Peace and Trust in Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat.
Following applause, Putin, 73, tried several times to start his speech but realised nobody could hear him. He was distinctly unamused, looking around helplessly for assistance to end his muting. A total of 16 heads of state and government, including leaders from NATO states, watched as Putin struggled in vain to be heard. Finally, an aide approached Putin and showed him how to flick a switch to turn on his microphone. « Thank you, » he said curtly before starting his speech. The Kremlin ruler was brutally mocked online.
« Putin couldn’t work his microphone; he pressed the wrong button and spoke without sound for almost a minute, » said Azerbaijan outlet Minval.
« He got what he deserved. Putin has no business addressing a peace forum after killing hundreds of thousands in the war, » said a Ukrainian comment.
News outlet ChTD compared Putin’s bafflement with his eagerness to show helpless visiting African leaders how to use headphones in the Kremlin.
« Nothing unusual. Putin in Ashgabat spoke for half a minute without sound until they turned on the microphone button for him,” said the report.
« The same Putin who regularly shows foreign leaders how to turn on headphones with simultaneous translation, which the Kremlin propaganda loves to talk about, comparing the advanced Kremlin host with his clueless guests. »
Among the guests Putin was addressing were NATO state leaders Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, president of Turkey, and Viktor Orbán, premier of Hungary.
Putin is on a two day visit to Turkmenistan when he is scheduled to hold talks with the leaders of Iraq and Iran.
The Russian ruler flew in his Aurus limousine to drive around the dusty streets of the Turkmen capital.
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