Bush used to dissuade Putin from hanging Georgian president 'by the balls' RAW STORY

Published: Saturday November 15, 2008





Print This Email This Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin allegedly threatened to hang Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili "by the balls" during the August war in Georgia, according to a report later denied by Putin's spokesman.



French President Nicolas Sarkozy's diplomatic aide Jean-David Levitte earlier told Le Nouvel Observateur magazine that Putin had told Sarkozy in a meeting: "Saakashvili, I'm going to make him hang by the balls."



According to the Financial Times, French President Nicholas Sarkozy used US President George W. Bush as a cautionary tale for the Russian leader.



Hang him? asked Sarkozy.



Why not, Putin replied. The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.



But do you want to end up like Bush? asked Sarkozy.



Ah, there you have a point, resigned Putin.



The Russian leader is known for his colorful and often very crude turns of phrase.



Referring to Chechen separatist rebels, he once threatened to "waste them in the outhouse." He also once extended an ironic invitation to a journalist to "become an Islamic radical" and get circumcised in Moscow.



With wire reports



