Vladimir Putin turned into soft toy by Far East company

Now you can take the stress out of life with Vladimir Putin. Tanka Toys, a small Vladivostok company headed by Tatyana Nelmina, has created the very first 'anti-stress' plush doll of the Russian President.

She is now trying to mass produce her new line for the Chinese market, and has launched a fundraising drive with online site Kickstarter.

Tatyana said: 'My husband and I are now trying to raise funds for the first batch of Volodya of 1 000 units, as China doesn't work with smaller parties.

'To do this we need to collect $12,000 (603,000 roubles). I hope we will succeed. Funds will be collected within 35 days. If we're successful, the toys will be in the hands of customers by August.'

The name of the toy on the Tanka Toys website is 'Vladimir the Doll'. More controversially, it calls him the 'pocket dictator'. The Kremlin has previously expressed displeasure at the use of the Russian president's image for commercial gain. 

On the company's Facebook page they state: 'We are raising funds for mass production of Vladimir the Doll. 'Support our campaign and become one of the very first owners of this stuffed guy or choose other awesome stuff as a reward.'

Tatyana started making fun stuffed toys a few years ago, beginning with animals and describing them as 'social anti-stress toys'.

'First I made the series of funny pandas, hybrids with hares and ducks,' she said. 'This series of hybrids was based on the activities of Chinese scholars who are engaged in feverish breeding of pandas. 

'It immediately became popular and my friends and acquaintances began to order and buy these pandas. Looking at my toys, I see people smiling and that they are experiencing positive emotions. This, I believe, is the anti-stress effect.'

Previously Tatyana made also the toys of Ms Badass (the lover of Russian official Mr Badass, Russian official), singer Konchita Wurst and Pussy Riot campaigner Nadezhda Tolokonnikova. She said: 'Mr Badass embodied the corrupt official. Now it is the turn of Vova (Putin).

'In fact, it was rather hard to me. I had to work hard to achieve a resemblance because he is a well-known personality.'