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MFA spokeswoman gives pranksters Vovan, Lexus secure desktop phone as award

Maria Zakharova handed them the award at the first national ceremony of awards for Internet content entitled The World Must Know

MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has awarded pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov with a secure desktop telephone of the type that’s used in government communications.

She handed them the award at the first national ceremony of awards for Internet content entitled The World Must Know, which is broadcast on the Vkontakte social network.

"The guys have conquered all the pinnacles of the possible. But life come up with new challenges, new tests," she said. "You have conquered the phones of so many politicians and world figures. I brought you that [phone] that’s called ‘government communications.’"

"You will have more work: there is no dial pad, no buttons. But it connects you, I hope, with your future. Call, delight us and the world with new revelations. I believe in you. I am waiting for your call," Zakharova said.

The pranksters promised to "make sure they will figure out" how the device works.

Vovan and Lexus previously published a prank with former US President George W. Bush, where they introduced themselves as President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. In the prank, Bush Jr. made a number of high-profile statements. In particular, he acknowledged that the US had promised ex-USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev NATO wouldn’t expand, confirmed the work of US biolaboratories in Ukraine, and spoke emotionally about ex-President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili.

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