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Their glitzy, typically unusual bromance — through which Berlusconi as soon as offered Putin with reward bedsheets emblazoned with a picture of the 2 males shaking palms – continuously raised eyebrows in diplomat circles.
The bedsheets have been apparently Berlusconi’s tongue-in-cheek response to revelations that Putin had as soon as given Berlusconi an ornate double-bed, which was described in one in all Berlusconi’s many tanged authorized proceedings.
In line with proof, an escort who was paid to take part in Berlusconi’s recorded a dialog through which Berlusconi instructed an escort to attend for him in a mattress, which the lady then described as “Putin’s.”
Some have speculated that Berlusconi, a billionaire, and Putin, a reputed billionaire, engaged in covert enterprise offers. Others pointed to the increasing Russian-Italian commerce relationship, notably in vitality,
Linked by a shared boorish machismo, the 2 leaders have been seen continuously collectively: at excessive combating competitions in Russia, laughing at worldwide information conferences, and in full gear for snowboarding journeys alongside Putin’s sidekick, former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
The 2 have been additionally photographed ingesting at one in all Putin’s residences in massive fur hats, and vacationing collectively in Sardinia. “Putin has by no means requested me for a single favor, and I’ve by no means requested a favor of him,” Berlusconi as soon as said.
The friendship, which gave the impression to be primarily based on a mutual self-interest in addition to real affection, continuously courted scandal.
After Berlusconi resigned from workplace in 2011 amid a number of scandals, together with allegations that he paid for intercourse with an underage intercourse employee (a cost for which he was later acquitted), Putin rallied behind him claiming that his Italian buddy wouldn’t have confronted trial if he have been homosexual.
“Berlusconi is being tried as a result of he lives with ladies,” Putin instructed an viewers at his annual Valdai convention with Russian and worldwide international coverage consultants in 2013. “If he have been gay, nobody would elevate a finger in opposition to him.”
In 2015, Ukraine banned Berlusconi from the nation for 3 years after he went with Putin to go to Crimea, which Russia invaded and illegally annexed the yr earlier than.
And final fall – months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which turned Putin right into a pariah on the worldwide stage – a recording was leaked to the Italian media on which Berlusconi boasted that he had rekindled ties with Putin.
Berlusconi stated Putin had despatched him 20 bottles of vodka for his birthday and a “very beautiful letter,” through which he claimed Putin had known as him “primary amongst his 5 greatest pals.”
The incident reportedly brought on friction with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who has advocated sending weapons to Kyiv and described Russia’s invasion as an “unacceptable large-scale act of warfare by Putin’s Russia.”
In a tribute on Monday, Putin known as Berlusconi a pricey good friend and an impressive politician.
“For me, Silvio was a pricey particular person, a real good friend,” Putin stated in a press release. “I’ve all the time sincerely admired his knowledge, his potential to make balanced, far-sighted selections even in probably the most troublesome scenario.”
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