Long silence, Vladimir Putin opens up about his health

MOSCOW – President Russia Vladimir Putin spoke out in response to rumors about his health while speaking at an economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday.

“Rumors about my death are greatly exaggerated,” the Russian leader said during a question and answer session Business InsiderSaturday (18/6/2022).

Putin paraphrased a popular misquote attributed to American writer Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by his pen name Mark Twain, in which he responded to newspaper reports of his death.

Rumors have been circulating about the Russian president’s alleged ill health for years, but speculation has increased since Russia invaded Ukraine.

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A Russian investigative outlet recently claimed that Putin had been visited by cancer doctors dozens of times. Other claims about his health have been made by unknown Russian oligarchs, former British spies and Ukrainian officials.

Videos have also circulated on social media showing the Russian leader’s legs twitching uncontrollably and him visibly uncomfortable gripping the edge of a table.

The report sparked a lot of speculation, including allegations that his face had recently appeared swollen from taking steroids.

However, some Western officials cast doubt on the theory that Putin is unwell.

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