Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a public apology to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, denying that he intentionally scared her by bringing his pet Labrador Retriever, Konni, to their 2007 meeting in Sochi.
"I did not know she was afraid of dogs," Putin said at a press conference in Astana on Thursday. "Angela, please forgive me, I did not want to cause you any heartache. On the contrary, I wanted to create a favorable atmosphere for our conversation."
Merkel, who has a well-documented fear of dogs, described the encounter in her recently released memoir.
She accused Putin of deliberately using the Labrador as a "demonstration of power" and said his facial expressions made it clear he enjoyed her discomfort.
Images from the meeting showed Konni sniffing around Merkel, who smiled nervously while seated.
"If you ever — I realize it is unlikely — come again, I will not do it under any circumstances," Putin added, referring to future meetings with Merkel.
Putin’s Labrador, Konni, popped into the room during the talks, which set off a media firestorm. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
A Controversial Gesture
Putin, known for his fondness for dogs, claimed the act was unintentional. Konni, a Labrador gifted to him by Sergei Shoigu—now Russia’s defense minister—was a frequent companion of Putin during his official duties.
Merkel’s recollection of the incident has reignited discussions about Putin’s diplomatic tactics, with the former chancellor interpreting the move as a calculated show of dominance.
This was reported by the Moscow Times.
