Teachers at the Russian Teacher of the Year awards were filmed enthusiastically rubbing a very phallic-looking trophy and you really have to wonder who signed off on the design.
The lucky competitors of the annual awards, held in Sakhalin island, have now found themselves going viral but sadly it's not because of their hard work as good teachers.
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According to local media, it's a bit of a tradition at the event for nominees to touch the crystal trophy, which is supposed to resemble a pelican, before the winner is revealed, but this year's trophy raised a few eyebrows due to its... let's say 'ambiguous' shape.
It ended up going viral after TV host Sergey Minaev, who previously edited the Russian edition of Esquire, shared the footage on his YouTube channel and joked that it looked as though 'some sad lonely women' were being made to 'rub a glass penis'. I don't know, they don't look very sad or lonely to me, Sergey.
He added: "I just do not have any other explanation. Or it seems to be some regional PornHub awards for their best models."
He then explained: "In fact, no, this is just a Teacher of the Year competition on Sakhalin island.
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"I do not know why the contestants must palm this crystal penis, maybe it gives them some wisdom?
"But I cannot understand it."
Judging by the clip it seems as though the women who did give the glass peni... sorry... pelican a rub saw the funny side.
While one fella who is asked to give it a stroke looks to purposefully avoid the beak and goes for the wings instead.
The footage was branded 'awkward' by local news station ASTV and organisers later conceded that the trophy was a 'strange' shape. I wouldn't say strange, but it's not screaming 'pelican' to me.
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Oh, and in case you're wondering who won the top prize, it went to history and social studies teacher Irina Saraikina, 44, who gets to bring the lovely pelican trophy home with her as well as scooping an all-expenses paid trip to London to study English.
Featured Image Credit: East2West