Central Elections Commission chief Vladimir Churov arrived at a pro-Kremlin youth camp by hot air balloon, taking inspiration for his journey from a character in a Jules Verne novel.
Churov chose the unconventional method of transportation to follow in the footsteps of Cyrus Smith from Jules Verne's "The Mysterious Island," RIA-Novosti reported, citing an elections official. In the novel, Smith and four other characters hijack a hot air balloon to escape famine and destruction caused by the American Civil War.
The official said Churov would give a lecture on politics and civil society at Seliger, a state-funded youth forum that takes place every year in the Tver region.
State television ran news bulletins showing Churov touching down Friday in a red balloon decorated with the words "Travel with us!" Churov, who was accompanied on the balloon trip, had to attempt landing twice after ending up in a bog on the first attempt.
(MT)
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