Kremlin critics and Russian bloggers mercilessly mocked President Dmitry Medvedev after microphones broadcast him promising to "transmit" a message from President Obama to Vladimir Putin."I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir," Medvedev was heard saying in English to Obama in a "hot-mike" exchange that has already caused a stir in the United States.
Medvedev was responding to a pledge by Obama that the United States will be more flexible on some bilateral issues such as missile defense once, as he expects, he is re-elected.
Russian bloggers immediately circulated Medvedev's phrase on Twitter, mocking Medvedev for his apparent admission that all information needs to go through the all-powerful Russian number one Putin.
Opposition movement leader Alexei Navalny tweeted, "Today, let's all respond to every tweet: 'I will transmit this to Vladimir'."
"Vladimiru", Russian for "to Vladimir", became a worldwide Twitter trend in a matter of a couple of hours Tuesday morning as bloggers used it as a universal response to any sort of statement.
"I am Dima, I don't want to make any decisions. I will transmit to Vladimir," tweeted @sult, using the familiar form of Dmitry.
Bloggers spread an image of Putin answering his cell phone in the country side, with the caption, "Hello, I am Vladimir. Did anyone transmit anything to me?"
Medvedev has never able to shake off his reputation as a president who is not in control. Last September similar footage made its way onto the Internet of Medvedev pushing finance minister Alexei Kudrin to quit at a government meeting, to which Kudrin replied "I will consult with the prime minister."