The latest explanation for Vladimir Putin's mystery disappearance … flu

[Eugene]

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 Putin’s 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.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/15/vladimir-putins-mystery-disappearance-seems-to-have-been-flu

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. another explanation:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026368073

[jwirr]

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]

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]

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]

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.