A topless demonstrator with written messages on her back walks towards Russian President Vladimir Putin , left and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, during the opening tour at the Hannover Fair in Hannover, Germany, Monday April 8, 2013.



German Chancellor Angela Merkel confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin with her concerns about a crackdown on non-governmental organizations - and then topless demonstrators with obscene insults written on their chests assailed the Russian president at an industry fair in Germany.

As the two leaders toured the fair in Hannover, several activists from Ukraine's Femen group, bared their torsos and shouted 'Putin dictator!' before being detained by guards.

A smiling Putin shrugged off the protest.

'As for the action, I liked it,' he said. 'You should be grateful to the girls, they are helping you make the fair more popular.'

Merkel was not amused. 'Whether one has to resort to such an emergency measure in Germany and can't say one's piece some other way, I have my doubts,' she said.

After getting an earful from Merkel on the importance of democratic issues, Putin arrived in Amsterdam on Monday to face an eyeful of protests from gay rights activists.

Rainbow flags were flying at half-staff around the Dutch city and rights groups planned a major protest against Ru.