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Foreign Affairs
Related: About this forumThe latest explanation for Vladimir Putin's mystery disappearance … flu
Source: The Guardian
The latest explanation for Vladimir Putin's mystery disappearance
flu
Alec Luhn in Moscow
Sunday 15 March 2015 17.58 GMT
Since Vladimir Putin vanished from public view 10 days ago, the speculation surrounding the Russian president has been nothing if not dramatic. One rumour claimed he had died. Another wondered if some cosmetic surgery had gone wrong. Yet another placed him in Switzerland for the birth of a secret lovechild.
The reality two conflicting reports suggested on Sunday may be rather less sensational and not at all at one with Putins virile image: while one claimed he had gone down with the flu, another suggested he had been suffering from back trouble.
Quoting unnamed sources, the Russian independent news channel TV Rain said the Russian leader, 62, had succumbed to flu and retreated to his secluded lakeside residence in Valdai, midway between Moscow and St Petersburg. In what would be his first high-profile event since 5 March, Putin is scheduled to speak with the president of the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan in St Petersburg on Monday.
In Austria, meanwhile, the Kurier newspaper claimed Putin had been treated in Moscow for back problems by an unnamed Viennese orthopaedic doctor. It did not identify the source of the claims.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Alec Luhn in Moscow
Sunday 15 March 2015 17.58 GMT
Since Vladimir Putin vanished from public view 10 days ago, the speculation surrounding the Russian president has been nothing if not dramatic. One rumour claimed he had died. Another wondered if some cosmetic surgery had gone wrong. Yet another placed him in Switzerland for the birth of a secret lovechild.
The reality two conflicting reports suggested on Sunday may be rather less sensational and not at all at one with Putins virile image: while one claimed he had gone down with the flu, another suggested he had been suffering from back trouble.
Quoting unnamed sources, the Russian independent news channel TV Rain said the Russian leader, 62, had succumbed to flu and retreated to his secluded lakeside residence in Valdai, midway between Moscow and St Petersburg. In what would be his first high-profile event since 5 March, Putin is scheduled to speak with the president of the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan in St Petersburg on Monday.
In Austria, meanwhile, the Kurier newspaper claimed Putin had been treated in Moscow for back problems by an unnamed Viennese orthopaedic doctor. It did not identify the source of the claims.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/15/vladimir-putins-mystery-disappearance-seems-to-have-been-flu
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The latest explanation for Vladimir Putin's mystery disappearance … flu (Original Post)
Eugene
Mar 2015
OP
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)1. another explanation:
jwirr
(39,215 posts)3. Possibly the Russian bankers are tired of the sanctions and are getting rid of him so they can make
a deal with President Obama and EU.
razorman
(1,644 posts)2. For decades, that has been the traditional explanation
whenever a Russian leader drops out of sight. Quite often, he is never seen again. Those Russian colds and flu are vicious.
amandabeech
(9,893 posts)4. It is a month and a half until May Day.
If he doesn't show up on the reviewing stand, we'll know that he is sleeping with the fishes.
Where's Medvedev anyway? I googled him but was unable to come up with anything recent.
razorman
(1,644 posts)5. You're right. I'd forgotten how Sovietologists used to study the photos from
the annual Moscow Mayday parade, to see which official was standing where, and using that to figure out who was in charge this month.