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 However shortly after Alexander Donskoy unveiled his "Putin is
Russia?" project in Istiklal Street, authorities took down his
paintings because he had not received permission to display them
there.
"Currently, we have an exacerbation of relations with Turkey,"
artist Alexander Donskoy told Reuters. "So, I show here, right
in the center of Turkey, on its main street where the Russian
embassy is at, that Putin is Russia."
"I wanted to draw attention to how Putin is taken in Russia:
like a superhero. So I wrote on portraits 'Putin is superhero',"
Donskoy said.
Turkey and Russia back opposing sides in the Syrian war but have
collaborated to seek a political solution, while forging close
ties in the defense and energy sectors.
But a Russian-backed Syrian government offensive since December
in the northwestern Idlib region has disrupted ties. Ankara and
Moscow have traded barbs in recent days, accusing each other of
flouting agreements to curb violence in Idlib.
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Media reports this week have cited the Russian ambassador to Turkey
as saying he had received several death threats since tensions
flared after 13 Turkish troops were killed in Idlib in Syrian
government attacks.
Donskoy said he wanted to provoke emotions in people passing by the
paintings and see their reactions. He said he planned to hold more
exhibits elsewhere, including in the United States.
"There will be more in the countries of Western democracy. So I will
show that the Russian people consider sanctions against Putin like
sanctions against themselves," he said.
"So, I am an ambassador of peace."
(Additional reporting by Yesim Dikmen; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu;
Editing by Frances Kerry; Editing by Frances Kerry)
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