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Was Putin's 'humor' lost in the translation?

 President Vladimir Putin made joking references to the sexual assault accusations against Israeli President Moshe Katsav during a meeting with the visiting Israeli prime minister in remarks that shocked longtime Kremlin-watchers.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published October 21, 2006

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin made joking references to the sexual assault accusations against Israeli President Moshe Katsav during a meeting with the visiting Israeli prime minister in remarks that shocked longtime Kremlin-watchers.

A Kremlin spokesman said Friday that Putin's meaning had been lost in translation from Russian to English.

As Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with the Russian leader on Wednesday, reporters overheard Putin tell him: "Say hello to your president. He really surprised us."

The microphones were then cut off, but a member of the Israeli delegation that the Associated Press cited without identifying said Putin went on to say of Katsav: "I met him. He didn't look like a guy who could be with 10 women."

The Israeli ambassador quipped, "It seems like he's envious of him," and Olmert told his host: "I wouldn't envy him."

Russia's Kommersant newspaper conveyed a more graphic version, quoting Putin as saying: "He turns out to be a really powerful guy! He raped 10 women! We all envy him."

Earlier this week, Israeli police recommended that Katsav be charged with rape, aggravated sexual assault and misconduct after women who once worked for him filed complaints. The 60-year-old has denied any wrongdoing.

In its story on the Putin-Katsav meeting, Kommersant commented incredulously: "This was one of those moments when you just can't believe your ears."

Deputy Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained away the exchange as a joke.

"In no way can (it) be considered as an approval of raping women," he said. "Sometimes translation from Russian into English does not reflect the essence of a joke. This was such a case."

[Last modified October 21, 2006, 01:47:04]