On Tuesday, October 7, Russia’s Vladimir Putin celebrated his 73rd birthday as world leaders, from Belarus to Turkey, sent felicitations, while Poland’s KORWiN party posted a shocking tribute that sparked online outrage.
World Leaders Send Birthday Wishes to Putin
On Tuesday, October 7, Putin turned 73. Though considered an isolated figure internationally, he still maintains contacts with several world leaders.
According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, along with leaders of North Korea, Azerbaijan, and Central Asian states, offered him birthday congratulations.
Erdogan reportedly called Putin by phone to wish him “best wishes on his birthday” and to discuss cooperation and Middle Eastern affairs. Similar courteous messages came from leaders of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Armenia.
Unexpected Polish Party Post—“We, Poles”
The Polish political party KORWiN, led by Janusz Korwin‑Mikke, posted on the social‑media platform X beginning with “Wasza ekscelencjo!”. The message extended “good health” to Putin and wished success in what the party described as the “successful battle for the existence of civilization”, further praising his promotion of a free market, lower taxes, defense of traditional values, and improvement of Polish‑Russian relations.
The post also stated that “we wish him the conquest of the remnants of democracy, namely his coronation” and repeated “once again, good health! Full respect.”
Wave of Online Outrage
The KORWiN post attracted hundreds of comments, most of which expressed indignation, calling the tribute a humiliation and a provocation.
Some commenters noted the wishes seemed “more pro‑Russian than Russian media.”
KORWiN did not address the criticism, and the post remained on the party’s account for nearly 24 hours.
