Vladimir Putin cut out the heart of a deer and gave it to Silvio Berlusconi – POLITICO

The two men claimed to be close, with Berlusconi defending Putin even after his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Russian president describing the media mogul turned politician as a “true friend” after his death in June last year.

According to Cicchitto, Berlusconi accepted Putin’s offer to go hunting even though he had never touched a rifle in his life. Once in the woods, the Russian president handed Silvio Berlusconi a rifle and they walked together through the snow.

When Putin spotted two deer, he urged Berlusconi to take aim. “It’s yours. Shoot,” Putin told Berlusconi, Cicchitto said. When the Italian refused, Putin shot the two deer and gave him a satisfied look.

Putin then walked down the slope, knife in hand. He cut up a beast and ripped out its heart. He then asked a man close to him to give Berlusconi a wooden tray on which he placed the bleeding piece of meat, saying it would make an exceptional meal.

Berlusconi then hid behind a tree to vomit.

The former prime minister nevertheless defended his friend. “Maybe it’s just a hunter’s custom,” Cicchitto recalled.