Putin lent his support to the Russian athlete, who was second on the podium to America’s Evan Lysacekv, by saying his silver medal finish “was worth a gold medal.”
Others meanwhile decried injustice and called for officials to “protect the honour” of Russian athletes.
“Accept my heartfelt congratulations,” Putin said in a telegram sent to the skater and published on the Russian government website.
Full story: Winter Olympics 2010: Vladimir Putin weighs into figure skating debate – Telegraph