In JRR Tolkien's novel 'The Lord of the Rings', which was also moved to a movie, the absolute evil Sauron gives the human kings nine rings of his greed to rule the world and enslaves them.



According to AFP, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a similar appearance by handing out gold rings to eight leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a group of former Soviet states.



On the 26th and 27th, President Putin held summit talks with leaders of eight countries, including Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, in St. Petersburg, Russia, and presented gold rings to them.



The words 'Russia' and 'Happy New Year 2023' were engraved on the ring.



The ninth ring was kept by President Putin himself.



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The CIS is a pro-Russian cooperative body formed of 15 countries that formed the former Soviet Union, excluding Ukraine and the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania).



AFP reported that only Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was the only one among the top recipients of the gift to be seen wearing the ring.



President Lukashenko, who is called Europe's last dictator, is a representative Putin-friendly greeting and sent a tractor to his country on Putin's 70th birthday in October as a gift.



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Putin's move was blatantly ridiculed by political commentators.



Russian political expert Ekaterina Shulman pointed out that President Putin's handing out the ring was intentional and conscious of the 'Lord of the Rings', and that the ring seems to symbolize President Putin's 'vain dream'.



Another Russian political commentator, Yulia Latynina, pointed out the reality of Russia's international isolation after the outbreak of war, and sneered at President Putin's handing out a "ring of powerlessness" rather than strength.



"The leader who wears this ring will fall into darkness ruled by a madman," Latinina added.



Ukraine has also joined the criticism.



Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksi Goncharenko pointed out that "Putin seems to have decided to postpone The Lord of the Rings instead of being the 21st century Hitler."



Since Russia started a war in February, Ukraine has called Russia 'Mordor' (the land of darkness), Sauron's kingdom in 'The Lord of the Rings', and the Russian army 'Orc', Sauron's army.



Regarding this reaction, Kremlin Palace spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no need to attach too much meaning to the ring and drew a line saying, "It's just a New Year's gift."





(Photo = Twitter capture, Yonhap News)