
A picture sketched by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has fetched 37 million roubles ($1.15 million) at a charity auction.
The painting of snowfall seen through a window, finished by a professional artist, features a sprawling "Putin" signature and was introduced at Saturday's auction with the words: "Here is a new artist."
The auctioneer started bidding at 20,000 roubles ($620), the same as the other lots, only to meet cries of "Let's not be penny-pinchers" from the buyers, who demanded a starting price of five million roubles.
An auction organizer said Putin had painted the picture in 20 minutes and then a professional artist filled in the details.

Comments (2)
Your're Putin me on?!!... (Below threshold)1. Posted by black_kittyb | January 24, 2009 11:19 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Your're Putin me on?!!
Sorry, I love puns and just hat to say it first!
1. Posted by black_kittyb | January 24, 2009 11:19 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 24, 2009 11:19
2. Posted by black_kittyb | January 24, 2009 11:28 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
...just HAD to say it first!
My Grandfather used to call Gorbachev: "Garbage chef"...because he was always preparing verbal junk!
"Putin" on the ritz!
We used to laugh about how we went into the Middle East and "Scared the Shiite out of them!". That was 10 years ago, before he died with Alzheimer"s. I do miss him!
2. Posted by black_kittyb | January 24, 2009 11:28 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 24, 2009 11:28