It seems like Vladimir Putin might have a thing for rigging elections. And not just elections that decide his position of power within the Russian government.
The 68-year-old was chosen as "Russia's Hottest Man Alive" by an extremely questionable survey that said 18% of men and 17% of women from 300 cities across Russia chose Putin as the most handsome man in the country.
The news the 5'6" Russian leader—with a love of taking his shirt off—had won came as no great surprise.
Congrats To Vladimir Putin On Winning Russia's Most Handsome Man! https://t.co/dk6UZFsnVU https://t.co/iyBTdve4ge— Barstool Sports (@Barstool Sports) 1617415503.0
The survey, conducted by the Superjob.ru job board, said "neither actors nor athletes or other politicians can compete with" Putin's looks, according to the Russian people.
However the same survey also indicated another 18% of women said there was not one single handsome man in the entire country of Russia.
People offered plenty of theories about Putin's win.
@barstoolsports Damn he's so fine. I'm sure the voting system is completely fair and not rigged. Congrats again Russia!— Salah Hisgeneral (@Salah Hisgeneral) 1617415567.0
@barstoolsports Did he..... kill the competition https://t.co/1axY930PLJ— Wiggy (@Wiggy) 1617486088.0
@barstoolsports https://t.co/8ceupgYhFr— Wes (@Wes) 1617415608.0
@barstoolsports Probably because all the other guys on the ballot mysteriously vanished— Joe Miller (@Joe Miller) 1617415716.0
@barstoolsports The horse was runner up !— SweetT (@SweetT) 1617568421.0
Putin also recently released a series of propaganda photos of him in the Siberian peninsula—some of which included him posing in sheepskin, and some of which included him sunning himself shirtless.
“The 68-year-old bachelor is the only individual to receive double digits in the open-ended questionnaire. Nineteen… https://t.co/m1HfBv65KQ— Iris de Graaf (@Iris de Graaf) 1617387344.0
This is not it. I don't hate the man but sexist in Russia? What happened to the other mens? Yikes. Isn't he like 5… https://t.co/CElJr9OKOg— Johanna - Tankie with Chinese Characteristics (@Johanna - Tankie with Chinese Characteristics) 1617478148.0
"It should be noted that 19% of men named themselves as #Russia’s most handsome man. And 18% of women said there do… https://t.co/siomuIeVBp— China Beige Book (@China Beige Book) 1617459793.0
Fun fact: I was kicked out of a classroom in St Petersburg for refusing to agree with the teacher about Putin's sex… https://t.co/iK7EWdB436— Sonya Mathews (@Sonya Mathews) 1617460888.0
Is this a joke https://t.co/r4m0hBKbgW— Syamir Shaik Farid (@Syamir Shaik Farid) 1617412289.0
Putin also recently signed a bill into law that could see him holding his office as President of the Kremlin until 2036, which would put him at 6 consecutive terms served.
On top of jailing his political opposition, Alexei Navalny, whom he tried to have poisoned with nerve gas, Putin appears to be removing any and all competition for the next "Most Handsome Russian Man" survey.
Are Russians no longer aware of Aleksey Chadov? https://t.co/Mb110iVmXO https://t.co/kJMoBMFCNR— (((Geoff))) (@(((Geoff)))) 1617401458.0
Hmm... I’m going to have to question this one, especially since that other poll had Prince William as the sexiest b… https://t.co/j37NK7CXDk— Carmelita B 🇪🇸 🇫🇷 🇨🇦 (@Carmelita B 🇪🇸 🇫🇷 🇨🇦) 1617399650.0
https://t.co/v0MRXWjgOS https://t.co/bKtvmKkZrt— Yell (@Yell) 1617395016.0
"The 68-year-old bachelor is the only individual to receive double digits in the open-ended questionnaire. Nineteen… https://t.co/9JcPevIYIW— Laura Del Col Brown (@Laura Del Col Brown) 1617389432.0
In other news, 82% of men and 83% of women asked, "why do you need my home address?" and "can I change my answer?" https://t.co/S2zj4ssSnV— Alex Richardson (@Alex Richardson) 1617388045.0
Putin's grip on Russia does not appear to be loosening.
But being called "handsome" due to a really strange survey, year after year? That's definitely a new one.