In PHOTOS: 'Macho' Putin woos Russia's GenY
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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin reached out to the politically indifferent younger generation by making a spectacular entrance on a three-wheel Harley Davidson at a motorbike festival ahead of the December parliamentary polls.
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Image: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin rides with enthusiasts during his visit to a bike festival in the southern Russian city of Novorossiisk
Photographs: Ivan Sekretarev/Reuters
'Macho' Putin woos Russia's GenY
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In yet another macho stunt, Putin arrived on a three-wheeled Harley-Davidson followed by a group of about 50 bikers at the international motorbike festival organised by the biker youth group 'Night Wolves' in the Russian Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk, state-run Rossiya 24 news channel reported.
Image: Putin carries artifacts he recovered whilst diving at an archaeological site off the Taman peninsular in southern Russia
Photographs: Alexsey Druginyn/Reuters
'Macho' Putin woos Russia's GenY
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Fifty-eight-year-old Putin, an avowed fan of bikes, called the participating bikers as his "brothers".
After a spectacular show replicating a battle episode between the Soviet and Nazi soldiers, Putin praised the history of Novorossiysk and reminded the public that back in World War II children were evacuated from the city in motorcycle sidecars.
Image: Putin adjudicates an arm-wrestling match during his visit to the summer camp of the pro-Kremlin youth group
Photographs: Mikhail Metzel/Reuters
'Macho' Putin woos Russia's GenY
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"I want to tell you, brothers, it's really great that you have not forgotten the heroism of the past," he told the crowd.
He said the defenders of Novorossiisk had a great slogan, which was "relevant today for bikers and for Russia. Only movement forwards".
Image: Putin rides a horse as he takes part in an expedition to Ubsunur Hollow Biosphere Preserve to inspect the snow leopard's habitat in Tyva Republic in the Siberian Federal District
Photographs: Alexsey Druginyn/Reuters
'Macho' Putin woos Russia's GenY
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Putin also called for the unity of multiethnic Russian nation, a timely call amid growing ethnic and racial intolerance in Russia in general and the youth in particular.
Putin, in the past, has also been pictured flying a fighter aircraft and hunting Siberian tigers.
Image: Putin attends an ice hockey training session in Moscow
'Macho' Putin woos Russia's GenY
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The Russian strongman is the honorary chairman of the ruling United Russia Party, which hopes to poll at least 300 seats in the 450-strong the State Duma in the December 4 elections so as to maintain its dominance in the lower house of parliament.
Image: Putin takes part in a judo training session at the Moscow sports complex in St. Petersburg
Photographs: Alexsey Druginyn/Reuters
'Macho' Putin woos Russia's GenY
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The election to the lower house will culminate in the crucial presidential polls due in March 2012 but whose date has yet to be officially confirmed.
It is not clear whether President Dmitry Medvedev will stand for a second term or make way for his mentor Putin, who occupied the Kremlin from 2000-2008.
However, he has made it clear that he will not stand against Putin.Image: Putin holds a five-year-old tiger's head as scientists put on a collar with a satellite tracker on the animal in the academy of sciencies Ussuri reserve in Russia's Far East
Photographs: Reuters
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