Tajik ode to Putin goes viral

DUSHANBE, February 8, 2012, Asia-Plus – Radio Liberty reported on February 7 that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin appears to have an unlikely supporter in his camp ahead of Russia's March 4 presidential election -- or does he?

A video lauding Putin's leadership has gone viral, which is not so remarkable.  But that it features a male singer with distinct Tajik features has some -- considering the intolerance suffered by Tajik migrant workers in Russia under Putin's watch -- wondering whether his ode is genuine, RFE/RL reports.

A message accompanying the video uploaded to YouTube describes the singer only as “Tolibjon Kurbankhanov from Tajikistan.”  Nobody seems to know any more about him, but the lyrics in his song make clear that he considers Putin a "godsend" who saved Russia and ensured stability.