Picture taken on June 24, 2009 shows Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) pointing at meat inside a Perekrestok supermarket in Moscow. Putin paid a surprise visit to a Moscow supermarket, instructing startled managers to lower their prices, the press reported. The visit appeared to be the latest in a series of media stunts by Russia's strongman to show the public that the government is in control of a financial crisis that still shows no sign of easing. Getty Images logo Getty Images 4 months ago

Picture taken on June 24, 2009 shows Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) pointing at meat inside a Perekrestok supermarket in Moscow. Putin paid a surprise visit to a Moscow supermarket, instructing startled managers to lower their prices, the press reported. The visit appeared to be the latest in a series of media stunts by Russia's strongman to show the public that the government is in control of a financial crisis that still shows no sign of easing.

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  1. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  2. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  3. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  4. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  5. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  6. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  7. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  8. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress attend talks at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  9. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress attend talks at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  10. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress shake hands at the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  11. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress shake hands at the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  12. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd L) and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) attend a signing ceremony of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing October 14, 2009. The SCO is a grouping of central Asian states. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  13. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) arrives at Beijing airport October 12, 2009, for his three-day visit to China. Russian firms plan to sign over $5.5 billion worth of deals with their Chinese partners during the visit of Putin to Beijing , Putin's deputy told Reuters in an interview. To match interview RUSSIA-CHINA/PUTIN.
  14. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) smiles as the head of the Italian carmaker Fiat Sergio Marchionne (L) and the head of state of industrial corporation Sergei Chemezov shake hands while exchanging documents during their meeting in Moscow October 8, 2009.
  15. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and the head of the Italian carmaker Fiat Sergio Marchionne meet for talks in Moscow October 8, 2009.
  16. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and the head of the Italian carmaker Fiat Sergio Marchionne meet for talks in Moscow October 8, 2009.

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