プーチン氏への支持、ワグネル反乱後も「驚異的」　ロシア大統領府

【モスクワＡＦＰ＝時事】ロシア大統領府（クレムリン）は２９日、ウラジーミル・プーチン大統領が熱狂的な支持者と交流する動画を公開し、民間軍事会社ワグネルの反乱鎮圧後、プーチン氏が「驚異的な」支持を集めている証拠だと主張した。（写真はロシア南西部ダゲスタン共和国の視察で、国民と触れ合うウラジーミル・プーチン大統領）
　プーチン氏が一般国民と触れ合うのは異例。新型コロナウイルスの流行以降は、厳格な隔離規則を順守しているためなおさら珍しい。
　しかし、政府は２９日夜、プーチン氏が南部ダゲスタン共和国の古都デルベントで、女性を中心とした支持者の歓声に応えて歩く映像を公開した。
　動画ではスーツ姿の男性や撮影班に囲まれたプーチン氏が、フェンス越しに手を伸ばして集まった人々と握手を交わしている。さらに、車に乗り込む前には上着を脱いで群衆に手を振り、投げキスをした。
　ドミトリー・ペスコフ報道官は２９日の会見で、「デルベントでは地元住民が驚異的な支持と歓喜を示した」と語った。プーチン氏も群衆への返礼を「拒めなかった」という。
　ペスコフ氏は「われわれのデータは、大統領と特別軍事作戦（ウクライナ侵攻）が圧倒的な支持を集めていることを示している」と述べた。
　ロシア大統領府はワグネルの反乱以降、プーチン政権は弱体化していないと主張しているが、ワグネル創設者のエフゲニー・プリゴジン氏には言及していない。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/06/30-17:14）

The Kremlin said Thursday that footage, which could not be verified, apparently showing President Vladimir Putin greeting adoring supporters proved that he has astounding support after quelling an armed insurrection.
Moscow has insisted that Putin's long rule has not been weakened after Wagner mercenaries marched hundreds of kilometres -- almost reaching Moscow -- and captured military facilities in southern Russia, appearing to gain some support.
Putin is rarely seen meeting ordinary Russians, especially since the Covid pandemic, which saw him observe strict isolation rules, with some of those restrictions still in place.
Moscow late on Wednesday released footage of Putin walking up to a cheering group of mostly women in Derbent, an ancient city in the Dagestan region of southern Russia.
In Derbent, there was an astounding demonstration of support and happiness of the local population, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
He said Putin could not refuse greeting the crowd.
Surrounded by men in suits and a cameraman, the 70-year-old leader reached out over a barrier to shake people's hands.
Then, with his jacket off, he waved goodbye and blew a kiss to the crowd, before getting in a car.
The Kremlin, which has not mentioned Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin by name since his mutiny, has insisted that Putin has not been weakened by the rebellion.
The data we have show the prevailing and dominating support of the president and the special military operation, Peskov said Thursday using Moscow's official term for the conflict in Ukraine.
Putin has insisted that the mutineers did not galvanise support during their rebellion.
He initially condemned the rebelling Wagner fighters as traitors and vowed tough punishment but after the mutiny was halted, Putin allowed the fighters to go back to their homes, join the regular army or go into exile in Belarus.