Lhe rumors about the health of Russian President Vladimir Putin revived by the American intelligence services? According to the news magazine Newsweek, in an article published in early June, a report by the Biden administration’s intelligence services allegedly claimed that the Kremlin leader had “reappeared” after undergoing treatment for advanced cancer last April. At the same time, several sources having had access to this report indicate that the document would mention an assassination attempt on Vladimir Putin, in March. “Vladimir Putin’s influence is strong, but is no longer absolute”, indicates one of the intelligence officers who would have had access to the famous confidential report. “The maneuvers inside the Kremlin have never been so intense under his reign, everyone feels that the end is near,” he told the American newspaper.
Three people who would have had access to the report of the services in question were interviewed by Newsweek and prefer to call for caution as to the information contained in the document. Indeed, due to the isolation of the Russian president, bilateral meetings have been greatly reduced between Moscow and Washington. However, by the Americans’ own admission, this is one of their best sources of information. “Putin’s isolation has increased speculation,” even a senior official of the Defense Ministry’s intelligence agency told the magazine.
But the day after the publication of the information of Newsweek, Washington says it has not written any report establishing that the Russian president was treated for cancer in March. “The rumors about the existence of such assessments from the intelligence services or the transmission of such information to the president are not true”, indicated, according to BFMTV, the American National Security Council (NSC) in a press release sent to the newspaper after publication of the article in question.
Precedents that have not always confirmed the version of American intelligence
Several weeks ago, last April, observers around the world suspected Vladimir Putin of suffering from Parkinson’s disease. And this, after a meeting between him and his Russian Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu. During the interview, the Kremlin chief was seen slumped in his chair while gripping the table with his right hand.
It is not the first time that the rumor of the existence of such a report emerges. Indeed, during previous conflicts, reports had evoked an illness for Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden. In the first case, Washington suspected a psychological illness, in the second, the information suggested kidney disease. Assertions which have never been demonstrated and which have sometimes served to destabilize the American camp, indicates Newsweek.
Asked on May 29 about Vladimir Putin’s state of health during an interview for TF1, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov brushed aside the question of a possible pathology. “I don’t think any sane person would suspect any sign of illness or disease in this man,” he said.
