Russian President Vladimir Putin was pictured in high-heeled shoes among students in Moscow, Wednesdays.
The President was spotted at a publicity stunt at Vorobyovy Gory for Russian Students Day.
President Putin has been observed to always control his image since coming to power in 1999.
In 2015, the Express reported that a Kremlin insider said nobody could be taller than the president in official photos.
The source told the newspaper: ‘That’s why his bodyguards are always shorter than he is, to give the impression Putin is a tall person.’
The Economist explained in 2020 : ‘In politics, height matters.’
The magazine reported research that taller politicians outperformed their rivals in the polls, on average.
This was attributed to taller people enjoying higher self esteem, on average, and being perceived as healthier, more intelligent and authoritative.
Putin and his propaganda ministers have carefully maintained his public image as President – though observers soon spotted him adding an extra inch with raised shoes.
