"Putin, Merely a Hypochondriac Who Frequently Gets Botox"… UK Defense Expert Dismisses Health Rumors

Rumors of Health Issues Including Parkinson's and Cancer Surrounding Putin
"Can't Tell Just by Looking at Photos of Him Walking"
"Always Accompanied by a Small Medical Team Nearby"

Russian President Vladimir Putin appears uncomfortable as he grips the table during a meeting with the Russian Defense Minister on the 21st (local time). Photo by Twitter

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Amid ongoing rumors about Russian President Vladimir Putin's health issues, a British defense and security expert has dismissed such possibilities.

On the 15th (local time), Michael Clarke, former director of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in the UK, said in an interview with Sky News that regarding rumors about President Putin having pancreatic cancer or Parkinson's disease, "I have spoken to several people, and they all say that watching Putin walk does not indicate Parkinson's disease, and looking at photos alone does not reveal any cancer symptoms."

He added, "Honestly, it seems President Putin is just a hypochondriac," and claimed, "I understand that there is a small medical team not far away. President Putin is accompanied by medical staff when he moves." He also mentioned, "There are stories that Putin often leaves meetings to consult with someone."

Clarke also said, "Putin will turn 70 on October 7," and "He is known to receive Botox quite heavily, and I always say that while he is alive, he tries to preserve himself (with Botox). In fact, President Putin receives a lot of Botox."

When asked what might happen if President Putin becomes ill, Clarke replied, "From Russia's perspective, one way could be for the president to step down and for Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, to take charge of the war."

Secretary Patrushev is one of Putin's closest aides and worked with him during the Soviet-era intelligence agency, the KGB. From 1999 to 2008, he led the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the KGB, on behalf of President Putin.

Meanwhile, since the Ukraine war, Western countries and others have consistently raised health rumors about President Putin suffering from cancer, dementia, or Parkinson's disease. There have been observations of him gripping tables tightly during meetings with aides at the Kremlin or frequently twisting his left ankle awkwardly during summits with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

In this regard, on the 29th of last month (local time), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the health rumors in an interview with France's TF1 broadcast. Minister Lavrov said, "(President Putin) appears before the public every day. You can see him on screen and hear everything he says," adding, "I leave it to the conscience of those spreading such rumors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.