Putin aide accused of corruption over 'wedding present' watch

[uhnope]

Source: CNN

Moscow (CNN)Vladimir Putin's newly-married press spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has become the focus of angry corruption allegations after wedding photographs circulating on social media showed him kissing his bride while wearing a wristwatch estimated to cost more than $600,000 -- several times more than his official Kremlin salary.

Russia's most prominent opposition leader, Alexey Navalny, jumped on the scandal, repeatedly re-tweeting the photo, snapped at the wedding ceremony in Sochi, along with a magnified image of the luxury timepiece -- a Richard Mille RM 52-01 "Skull" watch, of which fewer than three dozen are said to have been made.

"The watch of the newly-wed Peskov costs more than your apartment," anti-corruption campaigner Navalny wrote in his online blog. "The happy groom has been working for the State since 1989, and couldn't earn so many millions legally."

But the Russian President's spokesman denied the wristwatch was evidence of corruption, saying it was a merely a wedding gift from his wife.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/03/europe/putin-aide-dmitry-peskov-watch-corruption-allegation/

[Adrahil]

1. RT: Victoria Nuland to blame. Nt

[hobbit709]

2. You know it's coming from certain posters here.

[forest444]

3. He should have had his bribe wired to the Caymans, like our congresscritters do.

Serves him right for being so flashy about it. Silly man.

[MADem]

4. Maybe he got it from Putin--he likes fancy watches, too.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/06/putins-extravagant-700000-watch-collection/


I can't imagine what moron would pay that kind of dough for a watch, though--that's just stupidity. Plus, the thing is FUGLY, to boot!

[uhnope]

5. It's a trait of the "New Russians" (the term for the tremendously wealthy Russians that

showed up after the fall of the USSR) that they want to brag about how much they spend, that the high cost is the attraction. I've heard a couple stories about it.

One was about a New Russian who threw a dinner party where he ordered all the most costly items on the menu--a 100 bottles of the $1000 dollar champagne, for example, and after paying the bill felt the need to call the owner over to tell him "It was not too expensive."

The other was told to me by a woman who made hand-made artsy purses that sold in stores in places in Europe frequented by the New Russians. She said that the purses weren't selling at $200, but when she upped the price to $2000 they quickly sold out.

[newthinking]

6. It says right in (some of the ) stories. His wife bought it. She is a celebrity and multi-millionare

It is amazing how people fall for these kinds of stories (meant to create an image and sell page views with spectacular claims).

"
Mr Peskov insisted the watch was a present from his new wife. “This is a gift from Tanya. The watch is indeed very expensive. But they are significantly cheaper than some comrades suggest,” he told local media.

Mr Peskov said Ms Navka paid for the watch out of her own money, but how much she spent “is no one else’s business”.

[NBachers]

8. FUGLY is right. Did he buy it from the inside back cover of Soldier of Fortune Magazine?

Where's the authentic camo watchband, like those worn by Special Forces WorldWide, included at no extra charge?

[elias49]

7. Jeez. You'd think the guy was a banker or something.

Desperation is showing here!
Silly OP IMO.

[Sunlei]

9. lol, what good is corruption if one can't show off the bling