In
January 2006, “Putin, who likes dogs, had given Merkel a gift of a small toy
black and white dog, which had a short leash. Merkel, however, does not like
dogs – she was bitten by one when she was young and has since kept her
distance, according to an aide. German diplomats said they were unsure how to
interpret the gift,” FP contributor Dan Drezner wrote.
One year later, in January 2007, during a tough
meeting with Merkel over energy supplies, Putin’s black Labrador Koni entered
the room. Reportedly Angela Merkel was scared and confused, but tried to smile
and even made a wishful joke in Russian, “Now the dog is going to eat the
journalists.”
And Putin assured the German Chancellor: “I
don’t think the dog will scare you. She won’t do anything bad…”
A very nice story, one that deserves more
reflection in view of the latest events in and around Ukraine.
Putin’s
dogs in Crimea
There were polite green dogs in
February-March 2014, but who knows whose dogs? They were presumed to be the
Putin’s dogs because they apparently looked like his canines despite having no
nametags. But Putin denied ownership.
His neighbors – who had become already scared
and confused – did not want to provoke the dogs’ owner. Some of them pretended
to be angry, but mostly they wanted to get some assurances, that the dogs would
not go too far and do anything too bad.
Later Putin not only admitted owning the
green dogs, but expressed admiration for their distinguished duty. The dogs got
their nametags back and even medals.
The Western neighbors became even more scared
and confused.
Putin’s
dogs in Donbas
The same dogs entered Ukraine’s house through
the eastern door in April 2014. First, Putin denied that they were his dogs and
then he admitted that they might be his dogs, who had wandered in of their own
volition (volunteers, vacations, training) or possibly got lost.
This time the dogs remained green but rapidly
lost their politeness. They behaved like wild animals and started to bite and
eat everything and everyone around them, including journalists and even foreign
travellers who thought they were passing by at a safe altitude over the dogs’
playground. It was a shock! In response to the accusations, the dogs’ owner blamed
everyone for everything and defended the dogs’ right to self-defense (and self-determination
too).
Putin’s
dogs in Minsk
Then Merkel managed to invite Putin and some neighbors
to Minsk. Putin insisted on having his dogs represented as well. Although the dogs
were not invited to the table, they were allowed into the house. Merkel – still
confused, but even more scared – accepted his proposal with gratitude.
After many hours of negotiations, Putin
persuaded all the guests including his Ukrainian neighbor, that the dogs should
be treated properly if they wanted them to behave. He might be the owner of the
dogs, but neighbors should negotiate with them, respect them and treat them as neighbors or family
members with special rights.
When Koni entered the room where the two
heads of states met many years ago, was she exercising her right to freedom of
movement, or was that her master’s decision?!
You should never provoke the master! You will
never know when the dogs are following his order or acting on their own. Their
master has his own opinion and has no need to accept yours. Don’t believe you
will change this by offering the dogs tasty pieces of meat. When the master
shouts “Sic’em!” the dogs will get you.
PS. In this essay, the term “dog” is used to
describe an instrument of Putin’s policy.
No living animal should take offense.
Oleksiy
Melnyk is the director of Foreign Relations and International Security Programs
at the Kyiv-based Razumkov Centre policy
and polling center.
