Unseen home movies show tyrant Putin with dodgy haircut in cheap shell-suit on trip with future ‘assassination victim’. 

Detected Manipulations & Suggested Changes

Sensationalism

The article uses sensational language and exaggeration to create a negative portrayal of Vladimir Putin.

UNSEEN footage has emerged showing a podgy-looking Vladimir Putin playing a game of ping-pong with his political mentor who was later allegedly assassinated. Sporting a cheap shell suit and a dodgy haircut, the tyrant barely resembles the perfectly groomed brute the world has come to know.

2 suggestions

Use neutral language to describe the footage and avoid using derogatory terms like 'tyrant' and 'brute'.

Provide a balanced portrayal of Vladimir Putin by including positive aspects of his leadership.

Biased language

The article uses biased language to negatively portray Vladimir Putin.

The grainy footage shot during a visit to Finland in the early 1990s is a far cry from Putin’s strongman image forged by the Kremlin.

2 suggestions

Use neutral language to describe the footage and avoid using terms like 'far cry' to imply a negative comparison.

Provide a balanced portrayal of Vladimir Putin by including positive aspects of his leadership.

Cherry-picking data

The article selectively focuses on certain aspects of Vladimir Putin's past to create a negative narrative.

In recent years he has shared snaps riding horses topless, taking part in judo demonstrations and tracking tigers. But this bombshell footage obtained by Finland’s national broadcaster YLE has shattered the illusion of his genetic superiority.

2 suggestions

Provide a balanced portrayal of Vladimir Putin by including a wider range of his activities and achievements.

Avoid using terms like 'illusion of genetic superiority' which are subjective and biased.

Omission of key information

The article omits key information about Anatoly Sobchak's political career and the circumstances of his death.

Sobchak served as mayor until 1996 with the warlord as his right-hand man, despite his tenure being dogged by claims of corruption. Meanwhile, Putin continued to rise the ranks while leaning on his pal for advice on his presidential campaign. But the well of inspiration ran out in 2000, when Sobchak mysteriously died during a trip to Kaliningrad.

2 suggestions

Provide more context about Anatoly Sobchak's political career and the allegations of corruption.

Include information about the investigation into Sobchak's death and any findings or lack thereof.

Unbalanced reporting

The article presents a one-sided narrative by focusing more on Anatoly Sobchak and portraying him in a positive light.

Despite Sobchak’s death, his political spirit lived on through his daughter Ksenia – better known as Putin’s unacknowledged goddaughter. She ran against the warlord in the 2018 presidential election, although critics believe she was used as a fake opposition candidate.

2 suggestions

Provide a more balanced representation of both Vladimir Putin and Anatoly Sobchak by including their respective achievements and controversies.

Avoid using terms like 'fake opposition candidate' without providing evidence or alternative perspectives.