Putin likens rule to that of ‘firm but fair’ tsar

VLADIMIR PUTIN has unveiled a statue of Alexander III in Crimea with a speech drawing parallels between the rule of the conservative tsar and his own 18 years in power.

The decision to commemorate the quiet reign of Alexander III, who was the brother-in-law of Britain’s Queen Alexandra, comes after the Kremlin ignored the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution this month. At the ceremony at the weekend an announcer praised the “ruler who brought peace, glory, development and stability” as Mr Putin stood at attention and a guard unveiled the bronze statue, which depicts the burly emperor sitting with his hands on a sword.

Mr Putin said that while the tsar waged no large-scale wars while leading the empire from 1881-1894 he “gave Russia 13 years of peace not by yielding but by a fair and unwavering firmness”.