Vladimir Putin's administration has made a strange attempt to rig a vote for a zoo mascot to prevent a rival-backed orangutan from winning, it was reported.
Novosibirsk Zoo, in Russia’s third-largest city, announced a public vote to select its mascot after the area was named the country’s ‘New Year Capital’ this year.
In the poll , the city was given the choice between Aisha the cat, Batu the orangutan, Max the Amur tiger, Sayan the snow leopard and Shilka the polar bear cub.
