Siberian suntan: bare-chested Vladimir Putin goes fishing

It’s the latest stunt for the Russian leader on a mini-break in Siberian Tyva region

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been pictured spearfishing in southern Siberia’s mountains.

It is the latest stunt for the action man and adventure-loving Russian leader on a mini-break in the Siberian Tyva region.

Footage released on Saturday by state television stations showed Mr Putin steering an inflatable boat and fishing bare-chested with a rod in a mountain lake, accompanied by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and other officials.

It also showed Mr Putin fishing underwater with a spear gun.

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His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the president spent two hours hunting a pike before finally getting it.

Mr Putin has frequently engaged in action stunts since taking the helm in 2000, flying combat jets, riding horses and fishing bare-chested.

He also accompanied a flock of cranes on a hang glider, shot a tiger with a tranquilliser gun and released leopards into a wildlife sanctuary.

– AP