Russian PSA warns 'smoking kills even more people than Obama'


A Russian advertisement is warning citizens not to smoke — and taking a sharp jab at President Obama in the process. The sign, which popped up in a bus shelter in Moscow, shows a picture of the American president taking a drag, The Independent reports. "Smoking kills more people than Obama, although he kills lots and lots of people. Don't smoke, don't be like Obama," the text reads.
Dmitry Gudkov, the only liberal opposition MP in Russia's parliament, wrote on Facebook that it is "disgusting and embarrassing that this is appearing on the streets of the Russian capital."
"Soon they'll be scaring kids with Obama rather than Baba Yaga," Gudkov said.
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The sign has no attribution and Moscow authorities have made no comment. Obama quit smoking in 2007.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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