Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly apologized to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding an incident from 2007, where he unintentionally frightened her by bringing his dog, Koni, to a meeting. This apology comes after Merkel recounted the event in her recently published memoirs. During a visit to Astana, Putin expressed his regret, stating, "I didn't know she was afraid of dogs," and asked for her forgiveness, emphasizing that he did not intend to cause her discomfort. He added, "If we meet again, and I know that is unlikely, I will not do it again under any circumstances."
The incident occurred in Sochi, where Merkel was visibly nervous as Koni, a black Labrador retriever, approached her. Merkel noted in her memoirs that Putin appeared to find amusement in her reaction. Known for his affection for dogs, Putin has previously included them in official meetings, having received Koni as a gift from Sergei Shoigu, who is now the Secretary of the Russian National Security Council.
