Putins diving exploit was a setup: Aide

Naturally,they either left them there,or they put them there, Peskov said. This is completely normal. It is totally not a pretext for malicious joy and so forth.

The episode provoked considerable amusement among the Internet users who are most skeptical of Putins herculean image.

In an interview with Dozhd TV,a web-based news and analysis channel,Peskov chuckled and noted that he was on vacation when the episode was filmed,so could not have thought it up.

Peskov went on to say,however,that Putins PR operation is less extensive than outsiders tend to think. In general,regarding his legend and so forth,Putin doesnt need press secretaries or image-makers or public relations firms or anyone else, he said. In fact,most of the time,he does it himself. ELLEN BARRY