MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Tuesday dismissed speculation regarding President Vladimir Putin’s health, saying he was fit and well.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, during a routine press briefing, also denied claims that the president was using body doubles, deeming that an “absurd hoax”.
Reporters asked Peskov about Putin’s health following an unverified report by a Russian Telegram channel, picked up by some Western media, that the president had experienced a severe health episode on Sunday evening.
Putin, a judo enthusiast who has long cultivated an “action man” image, turned 71 on October 7. He maintains an intensive schedule of meetings and public appearances, many of which are broadcasted.
His recent program included a visit to China last week, with stopovers in two Russian cities on the return journey.
In a 2020 interview, Putin denied longstanding rumours that he uses body doubles, although he did acknowledge that he had been offered the chance to use one in the past for security purposes.
In April this year, Peskov said talk of body doubles was “yet another lie” and that Putin was in good health.
