Is Putin sick?
Lavrov comments on the state of health despite a taboo topic
Created: 06/04/2022, 08:29
By: Judith Brown
Vladimir Putin's private life and health are taboo subjects in Russia.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is now talking about it anyway.
Moscow – There is a lot of rumor and speculation about the state of health of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin (69).
Since the war of aggression against Ukraine, observers have increasingly wondered whether the 69-year-old is seriously ill and possibly suffering from cancer or Parkinson's.
Some experts want to have recognized signs of a serious illness, at least in his past public appearances, and are sometimes tempted to make a remote diagnosis.
The Kremlin has so far neither confirmed nor denied the rumours.
Now, however, the Russian Foreign Minister and close confidant of Putin, Sergey Lavrov, has spoken.
Putin seriously ill?
Foreign Minister Lavrov comments on the state of health
Observers are increasingly speculating about Vladimir Putin's state of health.
Only his closest circle knows whether he is really ill.
(Iconic image) © Mikhail Metzel/IMAGO
According to several media reports, Putin appeared fragile and insecure during the Easter fair in April.
British media interpreted his behavior during this public appearance as a sign of possible Parkinson's disease.
This could also be related to his puffy face, which can result from taking strong drugs and steroids.
The investigative team "Proekt" claims to have found out, based on data and information from an insider source, that Putin suffers from thyroid cancer.
According to the research, the Kremlin boss should have already undergone an operation.
While the world is wildly speculating whether Putin is ill or not, the Kremlin has so far remained silent on the subject.
After all, Putin's private life, which includes his health, is a taboo subject in Russia, according to "Spiegel Online".
However, Lavrov has recently given insights into the state of health of the Russian ruler.
Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, speaks publicly about Vladimir Putin's health.
(Iconic image) © Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS/IMAGO
Putin seriously ill?
Lavrov denies speculation about the alleged illness
Accordingly, Putin should be neither ill nor frail.
"I don't think that reasonable people can see in this person signs of any kind of illness or infirmity," Lavrov told French TV channel TF1 last Sunday (May 29).
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In a further statement, the Kremlin denies any speculation that Putin is seriously ill.
After all, the Russian President, who will be 70 in October, appears in public every day.
"You can see him on screens, read and listen to his speeches," Lavrov said in a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Even before the Ukraine war, however, there were rumors about the Kremlin chief's state of health, which his spokesman denied at the time.
Experts are still sure that he is ill.
Sir Richard Dearlove, a former head of British intelligence agency MI6, has already predicted a change of power and thinks that Putin has to go to a mental hospital and "will be gone by 2023".