Overview
- The microphone at the International Forum on Peace and Trust in Ashgabat failed as Vladimir Putin began speaking, leaving him inaudible for about 34 seconds.
- Putin attempted several restarts and appeared annoyed until an aide pointed out the switch, after which he said “Thank you” and continued his address.
- Around 16 heads of state and government observed the hiccup, including NATO-country leaders Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Viktor Orbán.
- Clips of the silent start circulated across social platforms, drawing mockery from users and regional outlets such as Azerbaijan’s Minval.
- The episode came during Putin’s two-day visit to Turkmenistan, where he was scheduled to hold talks with leaders of Iraq and Iran.