Putin's Speeches with Spaghetti on Ears Threaten Russian Lawmakers with Punishment

Mikhail Abdalkin, the MP who became a sensation with 'Noodle Video'
Noodles on the ear interpreted as 'being deceived' in Russia

A Russian politician who watched Russian President Vladimir Putin's state address with spaghetti hanging from his ear is now facing the risk of punishment.

On the 5th (local time), according to the Italian news agency Adnkronos and others, Mikhail Abdalkin, a member of the Russian Duma (lower house), is scheduled to appear in court for trial on the 7th.

Assemblyman Mikhail Abdalkin. [Image source=VKontakte]

Earlier, Abdalkin posted a video on Russia's largest social networking service (SNS), Vkontakte, showing himself watching President Putin's speech.

The problem was the spaghetti hanging from his ear. In Russia, the phrase "someone has noodles hanging from their ear" means that the person is being deceived. The video became known as the "noodle video" and attracted attention.

Some speculated that Abdalkin was implying that President Putin's state address was a sham. As the video spread, some Russian lawmakers harshly criticized Abdalkin, saying, "Is he not a Russian politician but a Ukrainian?" and "He should be publicly condemned."

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a gesture while delivering a state address in the capital, Moscow, on the 21st of last month (local time).
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Foreign media predicted that the Russian court might sentence Abdalkin to imprisonment. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, laws have been enforced to strengthen punishment against anti-government forces by applying charges such as insulting the military.

Meanwhile, on the 21st of last month, President Putin declared the suspension of participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the United States during his first state address since the Ukraine war. Signed in 2010, New START aims to reduce the number of deployed nuclear warheads by the US and Russia to below 1,550 and limit delivery vehicles and bombers to no more than 800, while allowing mutual inspections of nuclear facilities to verify compliance.

President Putin also threatened that if the US conducts nuclear tests, Russia will do the same, stating that he is aware the US is preparing for nuclear tests. He said, "We are clearly aware that the US is developing new types of nuclear weapons and that some US officials are considering the possibility of full-scale nuclear tests," adding, "If the US conducts nuclear tests, we will do the same."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.