Putin shirtless challenge goes viral online

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A series of Russian President Vladimir Putin tanning in Siberia has prompted thousands of imitations showing off topless torsos on social media platforms, following web savvy Pavel Durov launched the #PutinShirtlessChallenge on Instagram.

Russian President Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu/Reuters photo

The founder of the social networking site VKontakte and Telegram from Russia has called on males of all ages by posting a picture of himself and said there were only two rules "No Photoshop, no pumping. Otherwise, you are not an alpha."

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov launched flash mob #PutinShirtlessChallenge

Men, women, and kids across the country are answering the appeal, with some lining themselves up next to the president for a comparison.

Screengrab from Instagram

Apart from his leadership and charisma, Putin is also renowned for a number of macho photos his publicity team released, many of them from summer excursion and gym workouts, as efforts to cultivate a masculine image.

Screengrab from Instagram

According to the Kremlin, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented, the president "indulged in underwater fishing, piloted motor boats" and went "quad riding in the mountains" during this summer's two-day excursion in the remote Tuva area of southern Siberia.

This has provoked people's speculation about whether Putin intends to run for a fourth term as the president.

Reuters photo

Putin was previously photographed flipping a judo opponent, riding a horse shirtless and swimming butterfly in cold Siberian lake.