Is Putin's Message To Women On IWD Sexist? Russia's Leader Praises Females For Being 'On Time'

Russian President Vladimir Putin penned a 250-word letter to the women in his country on International Women’s Day asking , “How do they manage it all?” when it comes to multitasking.

“You care day and night for your children, grandchildren and your family,” Putin said in his annual statement. “Even today, on International Women’s Day, you are still caught up in your routine, working tirelessly, always on time. We often ask ourselves, how do they manage it all?”

The Kremlin then acknowledged women for their “beauty and vitality, giving warmth and comfort, cordiality and harmony with your tenderness and generosity of spirit.” He reminded the country that women have been celebrated in music and poetry for centuries.

Putin, who said women "give us life and perpetuate it in our children,” spoke on how women are in need of men’s support.

“We will do our utmost to surround the women we love with care and attention so that they can smile more often," the letter reads.

The congratulatory message comes weeks after Putin signed a law that decriminalized many acts of domestic violence, which in the end, makes it harder for women to get any justice in a country where they die every 40 minutes from domestic abuse. The crime is now classified as an administrative, not a criminal, offense.

People on social media said Putin’s letter contradicted the law he signed in early February.

“From a man who decriminalized domestic violence. What a hypocrite,” a Twitter user wrote.

“Do not pretend you care about women, with the law you just introduced, making domestic violence acceptable again!” wrote another Twitter user.

“Thanks for your heartfelt respect. Shame you have decriminalized domestic violence though, leaving women without protection,” wrote another.

You can read the rest of Putin’s letter below:

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Dear women: mothers, grandmothers, daughters, wives, friends, our nearest and dearest ones, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on International Women’s Day!

You fill this world with beauty and vitality, giving warmth and comfort, cordiality and harmony with your tenderness and generosity of spirit.

You care day and night for your children, grandchildren and your family. Even today, on International Women’s Day, you are still caught up in your routine, working tirelessly, always on time. We often ask ourselves, how do they manage it all?

Most importantly, we love and treasure you. No wonder men have been celebrating women in music and poetry for centuries. Konstantin Balmont, a Russian Silver Age poet, described women in a vivid and precise manner:

A woman — with us when we are born,

A woman — with us in our last hour,

A woman — our standard during battle,

A woman — the joy of open eyes.

We always turn to women for inspiration and consolation, and always find it. Women give us life and perpetuate it in our children.

That said, women also need men’s support. We will remember that always, not only today. We will do our utmost to surround the women we love with care and attention, so that they can smile more often.

Once again, let me congratulate you sincerely on this holiday. I wish you good health, success, joy and happiness. Happy Women’s Day!