Is Vladimir Putin really hit hard by the disease? For several months, many rumors have suggested that the 69-year-old Russian president has an aggressive cancer. Some speak of blood cancer, others of the intestine or the thyroid while others evoke Parkinson’s disease. But the Kremlin has been categorical so far and denies everything. Last weekend, it was Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who did not fail to torpedo all the rumors when he was interviewed on TF1’s 8 p.m. television news. “I don’t think sane people can distinguish any symptoms of illness in this man.” expressed the senior Russian official. According to information from the Daily Mirror, Vladimir Putin may have overcome his cancer, but is currently facing a recurrence.
On the other hand, the weekly Newsweek reports a report which affirms that Vladimir Putin was forced to be treated for cancer “at an advanced stage”. The media claims to have testimony from three senior US intelligence officials: the National Intelligence Directorate, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Air Force. “We can make diagnostics by screen, but it is very delicate. You have to be a doctor, and not all doctors would agree with each other. A posture means nothing. And even if he has cancer, he remains in a position to govern and can work until the end, like Pompidou.” commented geopolitical scientist Patrick Martin-Genier in an interview with Le Parisien.