Welcome to the Putin cafe

He might be 4,000 km away in Moscow, but just step into this eatery and you find the world of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with dozens of pictures of his life from childhood to the Kremlin.

Black-and-white or in colour, amateur and professional, his image looks down on you from the walls of the entrance hall and escorts you right to the table.

There's Putin as a schoolboy, Putin with his wife and holding a newly born daughter, Putin the steely eyed KGB agent, Putin in a judo bout, Putin inspecting a submarine, and more others of Putin.

Want to pose with Russia's most popular man? No problem - his lifesize standup picture is waiting for your hug or handshake by the bar stand.

Step away to the restrooms and there's another designer "surprise" - graffiti-daubed pictures of U.S. President Barack Obama and his German and British allies, complete with Obama's face on toilet paper. Toilet mats bear the colours of the U.S. flag.

"When we got together with partners to open a new cafe, we thought of a concept that would attract customers and guarantee its success," said Dmitry Zhdanov, a 26-year-old ENTREPRENEUR and co-owner.

"And it then dawned on us: Russia still had no cafe or restaurant fully dedicated to Putin, Russia's most popular politician!" he said. "This is how our concept appeared. Then we worked on the design."

The pictures, which also include one of Ukraine's pro-Western Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, are covered with hand-written salty Russian curses. Want to add your 'I-was-here' autograph? Just use the black marker pen to hand.

"I am neutral towards Western politicians," says YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR Zhdanov. "This is just business, nothing personal," he adds, though he refers to "the aggravating political situation in the world and, notably, around Russia".

"People react the way they consider appropriate, and we give them this opportunity," he said. "But, in general, we see this as entertainment."

(reuters.com)