Putin denies intimidating Angela Merkel with his dog
Merkel is just one of many famous figures with a serious phobia
© Getty Images
Angela Merkel, who served as chancellor of Germany from 2005-2021, released her memoir 'Freedom' in November 2024. The book revisits a widely-covered incident from 2007 when she met with Vladimir Putin in Sochi. Knowing that the Russian president was in the habit of bringing out his pets during visits with foreign diplomats, she asked one of his aides to prevent this as she had a fear of dogs. Despite the agreement, Putin brought out his black labrador, Koni, during their meeting in front of a room full of photographers and journalists. "Did he just want to see how a person reacts in distress? Was it a small demonstration of power? I just thought: stay calm, concentrate on the photographers, it will pass," Merkel wrote.
When asked about that decision in an interview after the book's release, Putin denied any awareness of Merkel's phobia. "Frankly - I've already told Merkel, I didn't know she was afraid of dogs. If I'd known, I would never have done it. On the contrary I wanted to create a relaxed, pleasant atmosphere," he claimed. Russian journalists smirked as he appealed to Merkel for forgiveness.
Fear is a normal human emotion we all experience, and the famous and powerful are no different. While some famous figures suffer from more common phobias, others experience some rather unique fears.
Browse the gallery and check for yourself.
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