Rumours have been circulating online for months around the current health status of Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
Many experts and sources have been suggesting that the haste with which the invasion was launched on Ukraine was spurred on by Putin’s deteriorating health.
However today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was forced to respond to the rumours as reports continue to be published claiming the 69-year-old is being treated for blood cancer.
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In Russia, discussions of the President’s health are rarely had in public, however, the Foreign Minister said it was necessary as more people begin to believe he is extremely ill.
While speaking to France’s broadcaster TF1, Mr Lavrov said: “I don’t think that sane people can see in this person signs of some kind of illness or ailment.”
He said that he didn’t understand why people would believe these stories as Mr Putin, appears in public nearly “every day.”
“You can watch him on screens, read and listen to his speeches,” Mr Lavrov said in comments released by the Russian foreign ministry.
“I leave it to the conscience of those who spread such rumours.”
His statements come after reports started claiming that the Russian president was being seen by a cancer specialist.
The rumours suggest that he was visited 35 times by the specialist and that he bathes himself in the blood from severed deer antlers.
Meanwhile, back in April, more concerns were raised by vigilant spectators who noticed that he was holding on to a table with his thumb while coughing and continuously fidgeting during a meeting about Mariupol.
Despite several denials from Russian officials, further reports continue to surface about the Russian President’s health with some suggesting that time is running out.
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