Putin forced to grin and bear it as choir butchers Russian anthem

Russian President Vladimir Putin is fiercely protective of his country's dignity, so it can only be imagined how he really felt when an Egyptian choir butchered the Russian national anthem during a state visit this week.

Mr Putin visited Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Tuesday, where the duo committed to a stronger partnership and the fight against terrorism.

However, the Russian strongman was greeted by a hilariously off-key rendition of his country's anthem, Gosudarstvenny Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii.

Impressively, Mr Putin - perhaps drawing on his KGB training - kept a straight face throughout the tune.

The 21-gun salute carried out as he entered the grounds of the presidential palace in Cairo might have been more to his taste.

Mr Putin's visit to Egypt was his first in a decade, and the first visit of a leader of a world power since Mr Sissi's presidency began last year.

He presented his host with a Kalashnikov rifle as a gift.