Last week Vladimir Putin finally reached the end of his tether with the Guardian’s Miriam Elder after she dared to impugn the efficiency of Russia’s dry cleaning establishments (amongst other things).  Today he has lashed out again, this time launching a West-bashing defense of the hallowed domain of soccer:

Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin signaled on Thursday he opposed calls to boycott the European soccer championship in Ukraine next month over the treatment of jailed opposition politician Yulia Tymoshenko.

“I think that under no circumstances should one mix politics, business and other issues with sports,” Itar-Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying. “One should leave sports alone.”

Indeed, in the Putinsphere, some things are sacrosanct.