This is a true story; it first appeared on Ynet - a most popular israeli news and general content website .
It all began in 2005. Vladimir Putin, president of the Russian Federation, visited Israel. Prior to his visit, an elderly woman came to the russian embassy in Tel-Aviv, and left a message for him.
He remembered her; she was his favorite teacher in high school, in St.Petersburg, She was the german language teacher. He invited her to a private talk with him ; shortly after that, she received his signed autobiography book, and a wrist watch as a present.
Mina Yuditskaya Berliner - the teacher, with Putin's autobiography
the watch she got as a present from Putin
(the above pictures are from Ynet).
So far, so good. The best was yet to come.
Several weeks later, the then 84 year old lady ,was surprised by the visit of a russian embassy employee who informed her that Putin wanted to buy her an apartment. At that time, she was living in a tiny apartment , not her own, on the third floor, in a building without lift. The embassy worker asked for her cooperation in choosing the right apartment for her.
She died in December 2017, three months ago, at the age of 96. In her will, she asked for the little apartment to be returned to Putin through the russian embassy (She was a widow with no children or close family). At the funeral, Putin was represented by a memember of the russian embassy which , according to the media, also paid for the burrial expenses.
(This moving story has generated in the media some talkbackers' jokes on... Macron, the french PM. Putin bought his teacher an apartment!? Look what Macron did for his teacher. He not only bought her a home, he also married her, and raised her children from a previous marriage...ha, ha, ha).
Well, may the teacher's soul rest in peace! The above story shows a generous, grateful side to Putin's character.