A commemorative copy of a Russian celebrity magazine, dedicated entirely to the virility and reputation of Vladimir Putin, recently sold out in hours on the newsstands of Moscow. It would appear to reflect, not for the first time, his strong appeal to his fellow countrywomen. As he continues to eclipse the new man of Russian politics, President Dmitry Medvedev, we ask how significant has Putin’s appeal to Russian women been in securing his hold on power and to what extent has Putin been more successful with the Russian female vote than previous leaders? Dr Natasha Rulyova of Birmingham University and Bridget Kendall, former BBC Moscow Correspondent, join Jenni to analyse Putin’s female appeal.
