Putin stung by Russian backlash

Public feelings have been running high over the Kursk

By Michael Voss in Murmansk

It appears that President Putin has been stung by the strength of public outrage at his handling of the Kursk tragedy.

When he appeared on television on Sunday, he looked extremely ill-at-ease and uncomfortable discussing the fate of the sailors.

In Murmansk, where the rescue operation is centred, feelings are running particularly high.

Putin has appeared tense during meetings over the Kursk

A local radio station is running a daily phone-in programme which is being inundated with angry callers.

The phone-in started four days after the Kursk submarine sank and the authorities appeared to be doing nothing. Since then the phones have not stopped ringing.

According to the programme's presenter, Natalia Chechnakova, the majority of calls have covered four main topics:

• President Putin's decision not to cancel his summer holiday on the Black Sea
• the delays in accepting offers of help from abroad
• the terrible state of the navy in terms of funding and conditions
• sympathy for the relatives of the 118 officers and crew aboard the Kursk.

During the communist era, most Russians were afraid to speak their minds.

In cities like Moscow those days are over but in provincial military towns like Murmansk such fears linger on.

For some callers this was the first time they have ever openly criticised their leaders.

President Putin came to power because the nation wanted a tough, hands-on leader.

The public response to the way this tragedy has been mishandled shows that a democratic Russia also expects accountability and compassion from its elected politicians.