Medvedev snapshot takes 1.7 million dollars at auction

An aerial snapshot of the Siberian city of Tobolsk taken by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has been auctioned off for 51 million roubles (1.7 million dollars), Russian media reported Sunday.

The snapshot - which was auctioned for charity at a St Petersburg event - was taken by the president from a helicopter while he was traveling on official business.

The black-and-white snapshot took in more money than last year's auction of an oil painting by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, which went for the then-record sum of 37 million roubles. However, according to surveys, Putin remains the most popular politician in Russia.