On 7 October, Russian leader Vladimir Putin celebrated his 73rd birthday, receiving congratulatory messages from several world leaders and a controversial note from a Polish political party.
World Leaders Send Birthday Wishes to Putin
On 7 October, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 73rd birthday. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that congratulations came from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and leaders of North Korea, Azerbaijan and Central Asian states.
According to the Foreign Ministry statement, Erdoğan phoned Putin to send “best birthday wishes” and to discuss cooperation and the situation in the Middle East. Similar courteous messages were also sent by leaders of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Armenia.
Surprising Voice from Poland: “We, Poles”
The Polish political party KORWiN, led by Janusz Korwin‑Mikk, posted an unexpected message on the social‑media platform X. The note began “Excellency! We, Poles, wish you good health on your birthday and success in your battle for the survival of civilization, in expanding the free market, lowering taxes further, defending traditional values and improving Polish‑Russian relations.”
The party added, “We chiefly wish the revival of the remnants of democracy, i.e. your coronation. Once again, good health and complete respect!”
Wave of Outrage Online
Hundreds of comments appeared beneath the post, many calling the publication a disgrace and a provocation. Some users joked that the wishes were “more pro‑Russian than Russian media.” KORWiN did not respond to the criticism, and the message remained on the party’s account for almost 24 hours.
