Austrian Foreign Minister: I did not bow to Putin with the intent of humiliation

 A friendly dance between two friends at the wedding of one of them may end in a sterile political problem. This is the tax of political positions. This is what happened with Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, who was criticized sharply for bowing strongly to Russian President Vladimir Putin during her wedding last week. She emphasized that the gesture was not a sign of submission.

"This was interpreted as an act of submission," Kneissl said in an interview with Austrian Broadcasting Corporation radio. "But those who know me know that I am not submissive to anyone."

She added that such a bow is a traditional greeting at the end of the dance, explaining that Putin bowed first.

Kneissl has faced a storm of criticism after she bowed heavily to Putin. Some analysts said this naive gesture would damage Austria's reputation.

The far-right Freedom Party, which struck a cooperation agreement with Putin's United Russia party, appointed Kneissl, 53, as foreign minister. Kneissl is an expert on Middle East affairs and has no political affiliations.