Putin Supporters Counter 'Information War' with own Website

Supporters of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin launched a website on Thursday encouraging internet users to upload their photos and videos in support of the premier. The project's organizers call on users to publicly declare their support for Putin “amid an information war against the Prime Minister.” The Cyrillic domain website, moiputin.rf, was launched by Moscow State University students Vladimir Tabak and Maxim Perlin, the masterminds of a 2011 erotic calendar dedicated to Putin, featuring 12 female journalism students posing in just their underwear. "This is our personal initiative; the project has no links to any parties or political organizations. The website will give users an opportunity to upload their photographs and videos in support of Putin and organize various offline events and flash mobs,” the organizers said in a press release. Tabak and Perlin believe that the project will supplement Putin’s official campaign, targeting a younger audience.