The news, if true, is sensational: Vladimir Putin is on the verge of resigning.
Mainly for health reasons.
This was supported by Valery Solovei, a former professor at the prestigious MGIMO University of International Affairs in Moscow.
A political scientist with well-placed sources in the Kremlin, Solovei has guessed several important predictions over the years.
Then the break with the authorities and the resignation from the university.
Finally, the creation of the Peremen opposition political movement.
"Putin - Solovei told the microphones of the Moscow radio station Eco - intends to make public his plans for the transition in January".
"The beginning of this process - he continued - was scheduled for August and the strategy involved union with Belarus. But the protests have upset the program".
The details of the farewell would still be unknown but the choice is now made.
The successor operation must be hastened because the Tsar, apparently, is not well.
And this is another rumor that has been around for years now.
The British Sun put forward the Parkinson's hypothesis.
Another hypothesis is that of cancer.
Never proven theories, of course, and perhaps fueled by the 'curious' habits of the last Putin: when possible, travel abroad without ever staying overnight, a thermal mug always with you to drink from and, finally, almost total isolation since he was the pandemic has started.
Of course, the massive firewall erected to protect Putin - who is 68 - can easily be explained: he is the president of Russia.
But to somehow support Solovei's claims are the latest moves by the Tsar, who presented a bill to transform former presidents into senators for life and substantially endorsed the extension of total immunity for Kremlin tenants. that soon will not be able to be prosecuted for life, and not only with respect to what they did while they were in office.
The Kremlin, for its part, has denied everything and called what was reported in the British press "absurdity".
Putin, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, is in "perfect health" and "absolutely" does not think about resigning.