Russia’s ruling tandem of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have put on a new show of unity ahead of elections by going fishing and taking a joint dive in the river.

The carefully choreographed footage of two leaders – both potential candidates in March elections that will likely only feature one of the two men – appeared aimed at removing suggestions of a brewing political rivalry.

The Kremlin published photographs on its website of the pair standing side-by-side with fishing rods in their hands and then both grinning broadly while out on a casual stroll.

State television then released images of the two men diving in green wetsuits in the murky waters of the Volga River in the southern region of Astrakhan.

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