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The ruse was soon revealed: Boris — or more correctly, the actor — was merely walking around in a $5,000 costume designed by a Russian theatrics company. The product’s real name was “Aloysha the Robot,” and Russia’s MBKh Media even posted a photo of the actor in the suit before the forum.

The TV clip disappeared from the station’s website on Wednesday before reappearing later in the day.

I know mathematics well but I also want to learn to draw

Reports in Russia indicate the forum hadn’t, in fact, tried to pretend that Boris was real, but TV viewers were left none the wiser. Just before a robot voice said: “I know mathematics well but I also want to learn to draw,” the TV anchor had remarked, according to the Guardian:

“It’s entirely possible one of these [students] could dedicate himself to robotics. Especially as at the forum they have the opportunity to look at the most modern robots.”

Awkward.