In 2011, Kyrgyzstan officially named a mountain after Russian President Vladimir Putin, then prime minister, in a bid to promote friendly relations between the countries. Putin is now scheduled to visit Kyrgyzstan on September 20. Although he has a history of publicity stunts demonstrating his love of nature, there has been no indication that the Russian president intends to climb his namesake peak.
Climbing Kyrgyzstan's Mount Putin
![Vladimir Putin Peak, measuring 4,446 meters (14,586 feet) above sea level, is reflected in the window of a helicopter in the Tian Shan mountains.](https://gdb.rferl.org/73c832d6-fcaf-4a1e-97b2-0343b0c68d62_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
1
Vladimir Putin Peak, measuring 4,446 meters (14,586 feet) above sea level, is reflected in the window of a helicopter in the Tian Shan mountains.
![An alpinist prepares to climb Vladimir Putin Peak, whose naming has inspired some controversy within Kyrgyzstan.](https://gdb.rferl.org/ed66665c-4ac1-4433-a9cb-1ef421a29d54_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
2
An alpinist prepares to climb Vladimir Putin Peak, whose naming has inspired some controversy within Kyrgyzstan.
![Members of the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party have complained about the mountain's new name, saying it violates a Kyrgyz law that bans naming locations after living people.](https://gdb.rferl.org/a434d834-bc4e-4378-a7eb-b5bce5ca85f7_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
3
Members of the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party have complained about the mountain's new name, saying it violates a Kyrgyz law that bans naming locations after living people.
![Some Kyrgyz citizens criticize their politicians for showing too much deference to the Kremlin.](https://gdb.rferl.org/cd0a1772-f636-4134-be2d-fb9175f4cc66_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
4
Some Kyrgyz citizens criticize their politicians for showing too much deference to the Kremlin.
![Mountain climbers approach the summit on September 17.](https://gdb.rferl.org/02457e1e-53c4-4354-8513-80be3c034cdb_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
5
Mountain climbers approach the summit on September 17.
![The Kyrgyz and Russian flags fly at the summit of Vladimir Putin Peak.](https://gdb.rferl.org/c1653ab1-0fe5-43ac-9fce-0274a796268d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
6
The Kyrgyz and Russian flags fly at the summit of Vladimir Putin Peak.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/d792db50-ea05-4f64-bf45-3a63e42d7c9e_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
7