Russian Government Releases Video of Putin Visiting Former Teacher in Moscow
A video released by the Russian government on 11 May shows President Vladimir Putin driving himself in an Aurus Komendant to a central Moscow hotel. There he hugged his former high school teacher Vera Gurevich, whom he had invited to the city for the WW2 Victory Day parade two days earlier. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the details of the visit.
The IndependentA video released by the Russian government on 11 May shows Vladimir Putin driving himself to central Moscow, where he hugged his former high school teacher and invited her for dinner at the Kremlin. Footage showed the Russian leader in the driver's seat of an Aurus Komendant, a Russian luxury car brand, arriving at a hotel.
Putin, dressed informally and carrying flowers, hugged his former school teacher, Vera Gurevich, in the hotel lobby.
The video was released on Monday 11 May. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin invited Vera Gurevich to Moscow for the WW2 Victory Day parade on Red Square on 9 May, and she had stayed at the central Moscow hotel. The WW2 Victory Day parade took place on Red Square on 9 May.
Vera Gurevich had stayed at a central Moscow hotel after receiving the invitation from Putin. Putin invited Vera Gurevich for dinner at the Kremlin following their meeting. The Independent reported that the encounter captured a rare informal moment for the Russian president with his former teacher.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
2 events- 2026-05-09
WW2 Victory Day parade takes place on Red Square; Putin invites Vera Gurevich to Moscow for the event and she stays at a central Moscow hotel
3 sourcesThe Independent - 2026-05-11
Russian government releases video showing Putin driving an Aurus Komendant to the hotel, hugging Vera Gurevich while carrying flowers, and inviting her to dinner at the Kremlin
4 sourcesThe Independent · Russian government
Potential Impact
- 01
Highlights continued Kremlin focus on WW2 Victory Day events even years after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine
- 02
The release of the personal video may aim to portray a more human side of Putin to domestic audiences around Victory Day commemorations
Transparency Panel
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