Vladimir Putin had to stop the recording of a television program commemorating International Women’s Day due to a sudden bout of coughing and spluttering. The 73-year-old Russian leader had to redo the recording after the initial release mistakenly included the coughing fit.
This incident is likely to spark concerns about Putin’s health, especially after previous reports revealed his reliance on a top thyroid cancer specialist surgeon for all his travels. Speculation arose that the leaked video may have been intentional, aiming to undermine the image of a strong and youthful leader that Putin portrays.
During the recording for International Women’s Day, Putin expressed admiration for women’s ability to balance beauty and hard work. Despite struggling to suppress his cough, he continued the message, attributing the hoarseness to excessive speaking. The unedited footage initially aired on official channels before being replaced with a sanitized version.
This mishap follows another recent blunder by Putin’s media team, where an unflattering video of him surfaced, showing signs of aging and fatigue during a meeting with Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko. Reports also mention Putin’s close relationship with a top Moscow oncologist and past speculations about his health issues.
In a separate development, Donald Trump downplayed Russia’s support for Iran, suggesting minimal impact on the ongoing Middle East conflict. Reports hint at Putin providing spy satellite intelligence to Iran, adding to previous rumors about his health conditions affecting decision-making. Despite ongoing claims and speculations, the Kremlin maintains that Putin is in good health and has shown signs of improved vitality in recent years.
