Arsenal playmaker Andrey Arshavin becomes campaigner for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

The 30-year-old joins ex-Everton and Chelsea stars Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Yury Zhirkov on a list of 499 ‘little brothers’ to represent the Prime Minister at election debates

7 Feb 2012 16:35:00

By Joe Wright

More On :  Arsenal FC, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Yuri Zhirkov, Andrey Arshavin
Andrey Arshavin - Arsenal, (Getty Images)

Arsenal winger Andrey Arshavin has joined a list of 499 representatives to campaign on behalf of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is up for re-election this year.

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Arshavin, along with former Premier League players Yury Zhirkov and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, have joined the group of representatives known as Putin’s ‘little brothers’ who will represent him at election debates since the Prime Minister is too busy to attend himself.

The list consists of a host of Russian celebrities and sports stars who have recorded video messages endorsing Putin, apparently without the use of a script or autocue.

To coincide with the supporters list, the current head of state in Russia has produced a brochure from his election camp with advice for his supporters, outlining the benefits of his presidency whilst claiming that rival campaigners are interested only in “another upheaval” which will lead to “blood and violence.”  

Experts are sceptical about the plans however, with some insisting that support within the electorate is unlikely to grow simply through celebrity endorsements.

“They will not attract Putin any votes, but it will ruin his karma,” political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky told Newsru.com. “Putin already has his electorate and a steady rating, and it will be very difficult for him to mobilise anyone else.”

Meanwhile, Kyrill Kotov, head of the scouting department at Lokomotiv Moscow, has clarified the reasons behind the club’s decision not to bring back former favourite Bilyaletdinov from Everton during the transfer deadline.

The 29-year-old ended his frustrating spell at Goodison Park last month after agreeing to a switch to Locomotiv’s rivals Spartak, despite mooted interest from Jose Couciero’s side.

Kotov has since explained that, although Bilyaletdinov would be a welcome asset, a striker was higher on their priorities.

He told sports.ru: “Diniyar is a wonderful footballer, but we were looking for a striker, so we decided to go with Pavlyuchenko, and I am glad we did. Besides, we have a lot of competition in central midfield: Glushakov, Torbinsky, Tarasov, Ozdoev, Sapater – there wouldn’t be any room for [Bilyaletdinov].”

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