- Title: 'Little Obama' ice cream goes on sale in Siberia
- Date: 19th May 2016
- Summary: KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIA (MAY 19, 2016) (REUTERS) WOMAN APPROACHING ICE-CREAM STALL TYPES OF ICE-CREAM ON SALE "LITTLE OBAMA" ICE-CREAM ON DISPLAY WOMAN CHOOSING ICE-CREAM LETTERS READING (Russian) "'ICE-CREAM" (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KRASNOYARSK RESIDENT, OLGA, SAYING: "You know, I am uneasy about the name. They were wrong to call it this way. People should have respect, because he is the President of the United States. So I believe this is a bit of an impudence or rudeness towards them - be they our partners or enemies. You don't do things like that. Even without it we have strained relations. And it is on top of it. God forbid him (U.S. President Barack Obama) getting to know Russia has such an ice-cream here." VARIOUS OF YOUNG MAN BUYING ICE-CREAM ICE-CREAM ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KRASNOYARSK RESIDENT, NIKITA IVANOV, SAYING: "I think it's ok. This name is fine, although it is a bit funny. (REPORTER ASKING OFF CAMERA: 'IS THERE NOTHING WRONG WITH SUCH A NAME?') "Not at all." VARIOUS OF "LITTLE OBAMA ICE-CREAM" IN REFRIGERATOR (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KRASNOYARSK RESIDENT, TATIANA, SAYING: "I would treat it as just a gag. We have too many negative things on television now. So let's not bring anything sad into normal life, sweet life. It is just for laughs. One can eat this chocolate 'Little Obama' (LAUGHS)." WOMAN BUYING ICE-CREAM (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UNIDENTIFIED KRASNOYARSK RESIDENT, SAYING: "It has some underpinning anyway. Everyone interprets within the range of his own morality. But nevertheless, it is better to avoid such sensitive issues. You never know what can happen; an international conflict may occur (LAUGHS)." PEOPLE WALKING PAST ICE-CREAM STALL VARIOUS OF BUILDING WITH LETTERS READING (Russian) "KRASNOYARSK" CLOCK VARIOUS OF "LITTLE OBAMA" ICE-CREAM ON PLATE
- Embargoed: 3rd June 2016 17:30
- Keywords: Russia United States ice cream Barak Obama
- Location: KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIA
- City: KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0014IH60CN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Residents of the Russian Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk are now indulging a taste of a new ice-cream produced by a local company under the name "Little Obama".
Despite chilly May weather, the ice cream, which is described by the producers as "chocolate-cream with chocolate glazing" is gaining popularity, ice cream sellers say.
The product, called "Obamka" in Russian, has a blue wrapping which features an image of a smiling young African boy, wearing an ear ring and holding an ice cream.
Some Krasnoyarsk residents saw it as a clumsy attempt to cash in on chilly relations between Moscow and Washington.
"You know I am uneasy about the name. They were wrong to call it this way. People should have respect, because he is the President of the United States," Krasnoyarsk resident Olga said.
"It is better to avoid such sensitive issues. You never know what can happen, an international conflict may occur," another Krasnoyarsk resident said.
With relations at a post-Cold War low since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its military intervention in Syria, Russian state media and pro-Kremlin activists have often berated and mocked President Barack Obama in terms that U.S. officials have described as racist and insulting.
The company that makes the ice cream, Slavitsa, which is based in Krasnoyarsk, said in a statement that it was part of a range aimed at children featuring "cheerful" characters. It also said the picture of the boy had been inspired by a Soviet cartoon.
Krasnoyarsk resident Tatiana said she preferred to see a joke, not an insult.
"I would treat it as just a gag. We have too many negative things on television now."
A U.S. official, who declined to be named because of the subject's sensitivity, told Reuters he saw the ice cream as part of a disturbing pattern.
The city of Krasnoyarsk hit the headlines last month after a cafe dedicated to Vladimir Putin opened there, luring visitors with dozens of pictures of the Russian president.
The cafe features Obama's face on toilet paper in its restrooms, while toilet mats bear the colours of the U.S. flag. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None