A St Petersburg Cossack group has unveiled a bust of Russian President Vladimir Putin depicted as a Roman emperor, symbolizing a "leader for life."  

Many of the Cossacks say they want Vladimir Putin to be Russia's leader for life.

Local Cossack leader Andrei Polyakov explained: 

"Probably Cossacks would want to have an emperor for life, who would give strength to the state, who would take care of Russia's destiny throughout his whole life, because presidents come and go, but an emperor as a symbol is probably whatRussia needs."

Cossacks used to serve the Russian tsars on the borders of their empire and today they've become a staunchly conservative social force.

Polyakov says the idea for the bust came about after Russia's takeover of the Crimean peninsula last year. 

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