The head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill said Friday that Vladimir Putin's reign over Russia had been mandated by God, congratulating the Kremlin chief on his 70th birthday.
"God put you in power so that you could perform a service of special importance and of great responsibility for the fate of the country and the people entrusted to your care," the patriarch said, joining a chorus of Russian officials congratulating Putin.
The patriarch praised Putin for "transforming the image of Russia, strengthening its sovereignty and its defense capability, protecting its national interests."
Kirill wished "health and a long life" to the Russian president who has been in power for more than 20 years.
He also called on worshippers across the country to pray for Putin's health.
"You gained the reputation of a national leader selflessly devoted to the Fatherland, sincerely loving the Motherland and giving all its strength to it," the patriarch said.
Kirill also wished him "unrelenting strength and God's abundant assistance."
The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church since 2009, Kirill has been a vocal supporter of the military operation in Ukraine.
He has close ties with Putin's government, backing conservative values over Western liberalism.
Chechen armed forces assemble to honour Putin and his ally Kadyrov
Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, a once-breakaway region Putin reconquered two decades ago, congratulated “one of the most influential and outstanding personalities of our time, the number one patriot in the world.”
20,000 fighters of the force unit take part in a solemn parade in Chechnya, says Dudayev, Minister of Foreign Relations and Information
In the morning Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, delivered a warm congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 70th birthday, after a week of criticizing how the Ukraine war has been handled.
"Russian President Vladimir Putin played a key role in the fate of the Chechen people," he said, adding that Russian leader "saved the republic" and "raised (it) from ruins."
Kadyrov said Putin's leadership has turned Russia into one of the most powerful countries in the world.
"Today, neither the collective West, nor Europe, nor even Ukraine can dispute this obvious and indisputable fact. And it will always be so! Putin has changed the world position of Russia and forced us to reckon with the position of our great state!" Kadyrov added.
The Chechen leader's message comes after he publicly criticized Russia's top generals this week, including Russian colonel-general Oleksandr Lapin, saying that if it were up to him, he would demote Lapin, deprive him of his awards, and "send him to the frontline with a machine gun in his hands to wash away his shame with blood."
Kadyrov, responding to the news that Ukraine had liberated the key eastern supply hub of Lyman, also suggested this week that Russia should consider using a small tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine in response.
Foreign leaders congratulate Putin on his 70th birthday over phone
Russian President Vladimir Putin is receiving numerous congratulatory messages and telegrams on his 70th birthday from leaders of foreign countries, heads of international organizations and representatives of public and political circles, the Kremlin press service reported on Friday.
According to its information, the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Turkey and South Africa - Sadyr Japarov, Miguel Diaz-Canel, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Cyril Ramaphosa - congratulated Putin over phone. The Russian leader also received a phone call from Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
"The phone conversations touched on the development of bilateral relations, as well as topical international issues," the Kremlin press service said.
Today, Vladimir Putin will also be congratulated by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders, who gathered for an informal meeting. The meeting is to be attended by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Earlier, a spokesman for Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said that the head of state would not be able to attend the summit.
Putin almost never takes a day off on his own birthday, and most often spends it at work. Several major international summits have fallen on October 7 over the years. Periodically, Putin's work schedule brings him to his native St. Petersburg on his birthday, where the president not only receives congratulations, but also conducts business meetings and negotiations.
Birthday message to Putin on Belgrade billboards
Local media said the billboards were signed by the Konzervativni Pokret Nasi (a conservative/nationalist group) with letter Z written much larger than the others. The Russian military has been using the letter Z on their vehicles since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. T-shirts and other things have been sold by street vendors in the Serbian capital
The billboards in Belgrade feature Putin’s photo and read: “Happy birthday to President Vladimir Putin from the Serb brethren!” The posters are signed by a Pro-Russian right-wing group. Putin remains a popular figure in Serbia despite the attack on Ukraine and many in the Balkan country believe that the Russian president was provoked by the West into launching the invasion.
Belarus leader gives Putin a tractor voucher on 70th birthday
President Alexander Lukashenko presented the Russian president with a gift certificate for the tractor as leaders of ex-Soviet nations met at the Tsarist-era Konstantin Palace in St Petersburg
It was not clear how the Russian leader responded to the gift, Lukashenko's office revealed.
Putin made no mention the gift in televised remarks at the start of the meeting.
This is not the first time the Russian president has received a bizarre birthday gift.
Turkmenistan's autocratic president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov gave Putin a puppy for his birthday in 2017. The central Asian shepherd puppy was a gift for the Russian president’s as he turned 65.
Tractors have been the pride of Belarusian industry since Soviet times.
Mr Lukashenko told that reporters he has a model in his garden which is similar to the tractor that he gave Mr Putin.
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