Shocking news of the day: Putin plans to stay in politics. And here I thought all those recent publicity stunts were just a prelude to an early retirement. He’s refusing to say, though, whether he’ll run in the 2012 presidential race. Ah, the suspense. From an AFP report:

Putin said he was not obsessed with the upcoming elections and had no “narcotic dependence” on political ratings.

However, he said: “I only have but two choices: either to watch from the bank how the waters are flowing away and how something is getting destroyed or lost — or to get involved. I prefer to be involved.”

Asked about his interest in the [presidential] elections, he said: “It interests me as much as… I was going to say ‘as much as anyone’, but really more than everyone else!”