Russian bloggers have noted that from Lenin on Russian rulers have alternated between bald and hairy rulers. The above cartoon shows the continuation of flip-flops between Putin and Medvedev as they become fodder for worms, co-rulers for life.

Source: Ellustrator.

A commenter wrote: "Medvedev is full of hot air, not gas, so maybe you should have had him as the balloon." Another, perhaps a "Kommisar of the Internet" threatened: "Keep on laughing, funny boy. Given the verdict in the case of Savva Terentiev, you may well be under investigation for inciting social discord." He suggests that Ellustrator's admirers get a fine of 300,000 rubles each and some time in prison.


Translation: Bush shakes Medvedev by the hand and repeats like a mantra: "Just don't look him in the eye. Just don't look him in the eye."

Source: Ellustrator

Ellustrator points out the physical similarities between Barack Obama and Cheburashka, the Russian Mickey Mouse, by having Chebby's little pal ask him, upon noticing a campaign poster, why he's never tried to trace his family tree.

Interesting to know if any readers think there is any racism inherent in this cartoon.

Source: Ellustrator.

A commenter writes: "Seeing RUSSIA in capital letters reminds one of the USSR."

On the fat, rich oligarch's leg is written the word: "CORRUPTION." A tiny pugilistic Medvedev sits on his knee as he smiles with amusement.

Translation: Medvedev (whose name means "bear" in Russian) is shown as Winnie the Pooh (Vinnie Pookh in Russian) and Putin is apparently piglet holding a shotgun. Putin says: "Don't worry about getting too high, I have everything under control!"

Source: Ellustrator.

Source: Ellustrator.



Hat tip: Reader Elmer.

In the above cartoon Russia Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov, until recently the leader of the United Russia party of power, says: "And now, a word about our rebranding efforts."

The word "rebranding" he utters is not a Russian word but simply a transliteration of the English word into Russian, because Russians have been to lazy to think of their own equivalent term. The party's logo of the Russian bear (shown at right) has been "rebranded" with the image of Vladimir Putin, who has seized control of the party as he becomes prime minister. Interestingly, the new "president" of Russia, Dmitri Medvedev, has a last name based on the world "bear" as well.

Source: Ellustrator.

Source: Ellustrator.

Explanation: The boat, which contains Lenin, Stalin, Putin and Medvedev, has "Galleys" written across the side. This creates a play on words since, as in English, the the Russian word for "galley", is close to the Russian word for "gallery," as in a lineup of pictures of famous/infamous people, like a "rogues gallery"- or a police lineup). In text that accompanies the image, one rower cries out "we're not slaves!" and another answers "but were working like galley slaves!" This refers to an interview Vladmir Putin gave to Time magazine in December 2007 in which he famously exclaimed that he had been "working like a galley slave" in his job as President. The phrase is a set expression in Russian, normally using a word that means "work one's butt off," or to slave away. Ellustrator's readers loved it, of course. Several commented that he should have included the rest of the pantheon of Soviet leaders -- plus Gorbachev and Yeltsyn -- in the boat.