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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Putin's 'rape joke' played down | Putin's 'rape joke' played down |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Russia's President Vladimir Putin has been overheard joking about the virility of his Israeli counterpart, who is accused of multiple rape. | Russia's President Vladimir Putin has been overheard joking about the virility of his Israeli counterpart, who is accused of multiple rape. |
| A Russian journalist said Mr Putin joked that President Moshe Katsav was a "mighty man", adding "we all envy him". | A Russian journalist said Mr Putin joked that President Moshe Katsav was a "mighty man", adding "we all envy him". |
| Mr Katsav is facing allegations that he raped members of his staff. He strongly denies the claims. | Mr Katsav is facing allegations that he raped members of his staff. He strongly denies the claims. |
| A Kremlin spokesman admitted Mr Putin made a joke, but said it was not meant to be overheard. | A Kremlin spokesman admitted Mr Putin made a joke, but said it was not meant to be overheard. |
| The quip was made at the end of a press conference held by Mr Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Moscow, which focused mainly on the Iran crisis. | The quip was made at the end of a press conference held by Mr Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Moscow, which focused mainly on the Iran crisis. |
| I don't think that the proper translation is able to reflect the meaning of the joke Dmitri PeskovKremlin spokesman | I don't think that the proper translation is able to reflect the meaning of the joke Dmitri PeskovKremlin spokesman |
| As the leaders prepared to leave, the microphone caught Mr Putin saying "greetings to your president". | As the leaders prepared to leave, the microphone caught Mr Putin saying "greetings to your president". |
| The microphone then went dead, but journalist Andrei Kolesnikov told the BBC he heard the rest of the comment. | The microphone then went dead, but journalist Andrei Kolesnikov told the BBC he heard the rest of the comment. |
| He said the president continued: "What a mighty man he turns out to be! He raped 10 women - I would never have expected this from him. He surprised us all - we all envy him!" | |
| There reportedly followed loud laughter among the official delegations. | There reportedly followed loud laughter among the official delegations. |
| Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov admitted: "Yes really, these words were pronounced." | Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov admitted: "Yes really, these words were pronounced." |
| But he said it "in no way means that President Putin welcomes rape". | But he said it "in no way means that President Putin welcomes rape". |
| Mr Katsav denies the allegations | Mr Katsav denies the allegations |
| "The president was joking," he told the BBC's World Today radio programme. | "The president was joking," he told the BBC's World Today radio programme. |
| "Russian is a very complicated language, sometimes it is very sensitive from the point of view of phrasing. | "Russian is a very complicated language, sometimes it is very sensitive from the point of view of phrasing. |
| "I don't think that the proper translation is able to reflect the meaning of the joke." | "I don't think that the proper translation is able to reflect the meaning of the joke." |
| Israeli police have said there is enough evidence to charge Mr Katsav, 60, over allegations of "rape, forced sexual acts, sexual acts without consent and sexual harassment". | Israeli police have said there is enough evidence to charge Mr Katsav, 60, over allegations of "rape, forced sexual acts, sexual acts without consent and sexual harassment". |
| He may also be charged with wire-tapping. | He may also be charged with wire-tapping. |