Vladimir Putin gains popularity in Egypt

In the days of political confrontation between the Islamists and supporters of the army in Egypt Russian President Vladimir Putin is gaining popularity quickly among Egyptian citizens, just falling behind Egyptian First Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Abdel Fattah al Sisi. On Friday, when millions of people went out in the streets of Egyptian cities in support of the armed forces and against terrorism, already breaking a record of June 30, when over 30 million people gathered on the squares, the portraits of the Russian leader can be seen quite often. A huge poster with the picture of Putin in naval uniform and the saying in Arabic “Bye-bye, America!” was placed in the northern Egyptian capital Alexandria near the images of al Sisi and favourite late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser on Friday. The same over-the-street banner was placed in the Egyptian sea resort city Hurghada, where many Russian compatriots live. The portraits of three leaders are crowned with the saying in Russian, “Against terrorism - it is needed that people will direct the military at the struggle against violence and terrorism.” Many Egyptians voice their gratitude to Russia for its aid and support in these hard minutes for the country. Local media and social networks are debating actively the issue that after the United States stated about the suspension of the supplies of a batch of fighters F-16, Russia allegedly proposed to Egypt a batch of air defence missile systems S-300 and tens of modern fighters MiG.