Check him out wearing a crucifix in this beefcake shot. And its not a fluke, a “Google Images” on “Shirtless Putin” turns up several pix, this is just the clearest one.

How can this be? The man was a dedicated Communist, a KGB Colonel, what Le Carre lovingly called “a Moscow Center-trained hood”.

The multiple pictures argue its not a one-time thing, or that its been photoshopped in by some Zamizdat. Now, maybe its a family heirlooom he feels its safe to wear now that the USSR is no more and the Orthodox Church is rehabilitated and influential again. Or maybe he’s wearing one as a propaganda ploy, to ingratiate himself with foreigners and domestic religionists.

I;m not the first to notice and comment on this either, or whith some of Putin’s religious comments and observations. Check out this sympathetic account of Putin in, of all places, The American Conservative.

In particular, read the long quoted speech by Mr Putin on traditional values. Isn’t it amazing how quickly fascism embraces cultural conservatism?

Things are getting strange.