Vladimir Putin unwitting star in advertisement for toasters

Despite his macho image, Vladimir Putin has become the unwitting star of a rather more domesticated ad | WATCH

Vladimir Putin in the kitchen with the Bork products tagged. Picture: YouTube.

President Putin is more usually associated with fishing rods, hunting rifles or other macho accoutrements. His image, however, is now being used to promote such homely objects as a juice-maker, a food mixer and a toaster.

Bork, an electrical appliances company, is under investigation by Russia’s federal anti-monopoly service (FAS) after advertising its products using footage of the president in his kitchen while eating breakfast. In the video, Mr Putin, 65, is seen finishing a bowl of porridge and scooting towards a fridge. The image freezes and the model numbers of Bork appliances on a work surface behind him appear on the screen.

Bork is an international company with headquarters in Moscow which focuses on the Russian market but hints at high-end German quality. The name comes from the German word “abborken”, or “to strip bark”.

Under Russian law, advertisements must not suggest that government officials endorse an item being marketed.

The video was posted on Bork’s YouTube channel in May but has only just come to the authorities’ notice. The clip has also been spotted on display at one of its stores in Moscow. Mr Putin can be seen passing two juice-makers, a blender, a kettle and a toaster, all made by the company.

FAS, which regulates advertising, said that it was looking into the video, entitled “Bork in the president’s kitchen”, and would “take measures” if it proved to be illegal.

Neither the Kremlin nor the company has commented.

The footage was taken from Unknown Putin, a documentary aired on state-controlled television in 2012.

During the program, the president is seen playing billiards, working out and swimming alone in his personal pool. During the segment in his kitchen, Mr Putin also eats curds and raw quails’ eggs as he tells an interviewer about his morning routine. He also prepares a healthy vegetable “cocktail” of his own invention that contains horseradish.

While this footage does not appear to have been officially sanctioned, the Kremlin does frequently publish images of Russia’s leader “off duty”. Over the years, Mr Putin has been pictured stroking tigers, flying a hang- glider, riding a motorbike, diving to the bottom of the Black Sea and showing off his black belt judo techniques.

The Times