Vladimir Putin has sparked further fears about his health after he was photographed limping during a surprise visit to Crimea. President of Russia Recent months have been plagued by intense speculation about his health. .
Putin has also appeared frail and dangerous in videos and photos, helping to fuel debate about his overall health and ability to continue as the country’s leader.
The 70-year-old traveled to Crimea on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of its illegal annexation in 2014.
He was filmed walking around Sevastopol, one of Russia’s naval bases. Russia‘s Black Sea Fleet, which has been the target of a Ukrainian strike in recent months.
The Russian president was accompanied on the walk by the governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvodjaev, and six bodyguards.
He was shown by his host through the Children’s Art School and the Tauric Cheronese Museum.
But Putin appeared to be a little uncomfortable while walking, in stark contrast to his showing no signs of limping in Moscow and the Siberian city of Ulan-Ude earlier this week.
Razvozhayev claimed that the original plan was to have a video conference, so the visit came as a complete surprise.
The Governor wrote on his Telegram channel:
“Everything was ready for the video conference and the report was to be presented to him through a special communication channel.
“in the meantime, Vladimir Putin just arrived here. himself. Hey, guys.
“Because on this historic day, the president will always be with Sevastopol and its inhabitants.”
The Kremlin has consistently dismissed suggestions that the Russian president is battling a life-threatening disease, calling it “fake news.”
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This is a view that seems to be shared by UK experts. RussiaProfessor Mark Galeotti.
Professor Galeotti, director of Mayak Intelligence, told Newsweek that there was a lot of “wishful thinking” about Putin’s health.
“I am very skeptical that Putin has health problems that could lead to imminent death or incapacity,” he said.
“There is a lot of rumor, propaganda and wishful thinking going on.”
Mr Putin’s visit came a day after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him.
The head of the Kremlin, along with his Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Livova-Belova, are accused of illegally deporting Ukrainian children from the occupied territories. Russia and commit war crimes.
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The ICC said in a statement: Ukraine Harm Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation. ”
Putin becomes the third head of state to face an arrest warrant from the ICC, after Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi.
Peskov called the accusation “outrageous and unacceptable”, saying: Russia Like the United States, it does not recognize the jurisdiction of war crimes tribunals.
“Therefore, a decision of this kind is null and void for the Russian Federation from a legal point of view,” he added.
