Russia unveils bust of Putin as Roman emperor

Russian Cossacks in traditional uniforms pose for a photo next to a bust portraying Russian President Vladimir Putin during the unveiling of the sculpture outside St. Petersburg, Russia, 16 May 2015. - EPA

SAINT PETERSBURG, May 17, 2015 (AFP) - A group of supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday presented a bust of the strongman depicting him in the heroic guise of a Roman emperor.

"We wanted to immortalise Vladimir Putin as a conqueror and statesman who returned Crimea to Russia," said Andrei Polyakov, the head of a group of Cossacks outside the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg.