Akita Prefecture announced on December 3rd that “Mir”*, the Siberian cat gifted by Vladimir Putin to Governor Satake in 2013, died due to illness, NHK reports. The exchange began in 2012 when Governor Satake sent an Akita dog named “Yume” to celebrate Putin’s inauguration. In return, Putin sent the male Siberian cat “Mir” to Akita in 2013. This gesture was intended to strengthen the bond between the two states. The death of Mir marks the end of a symbolic connection between Akita and Russia.
*Mir means “peace” or “world” in Russian
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In March of last year, shortly after the beginning of the war, Governor Satake of Akita criticized President Vladimir Putin, remarking:
Unlike President Putin, my cat Mir is very kind and gentle. It’s very ironic.
A video of Mir, the Siberian cat gifted by Putin, was released in February of this year, showing the cat peacefully relaxing on the floor and sleeping alongside other pets. However, on December 3rd, Akita Prefecture announced the sad news that Mir had passed away due to illness. This marks the end of a symbolic connection between the governor and Russia.
NHK and agencies
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