Get you up to speed: Kremlin confirms release of unedited Putin video as ‘weekend mistake’
An outtake of Vladimir Putin coughing during a piece to camera for International Women’s Day was mistakenly released by the Kremlin. Kremlin spokesperson Alexander Yushanev described the incident as a “weekend mistake.”
Kremlin spokesperson Alexander Yushanev characterised the release of an unedited video showing Vladimir Putin coughing as a “weekend mistake” and stated that no extraordinary investigation is being conducted by the Presidential Administration. According to former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, Putin’s health concerns are significant, suggesting he is constantly accompanied by doctors and may be receiving medical treatment between public engagements, which he asserts impacts the governance of Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Alexander Yushanev characterised the release of the coughing incident as a ‘weekend mistake’ and indicated that no extraordinary investigation is being conducted regarding the incident. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin, during a recent press conference in Beijing, discussed modern methods of improving health and expressed hope for significantly increased life expectancy.
Putin’s coughing fit caught in footage released by Kremlin | News World
Someone is in trouble after an outtake of Vladimir Putin in the middle of a coughing fit was mistakenly released by the Kremlin.
The Russian President normally portrays a strong man image, fishing in bear-infested forests or riding horses topless, but he was caught meekly spluttering his way through a piece to camera for International Women’s Day.
Coughing and struggling over his words the 73-year-old points to his own throat and croaks at a cameraman: ‘You know, let me say that again, because… my throat’s a bit scratchy.
‘Yes, a bit scratchy. I almost started coughing. I’ve been talking a lot today.’
Hardman Vladimir Putin rides a horse during his vacation outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia (Picture: Alexsey Druginyn/AFP via Getty Images)
Putin went on to give a speech for International Women’s Day, a historic day in his country after it became a flashpoint in the 1917 Revolution.
‘A generous, compassionate and truly wise feminine soul makes the world a better and kinder place, and a mother’s love remains in every person’s heart for life,’ Putin said.
Kremlin spokesperson Alexander Yushanev moved to dismiss the release as a ‘weekend mistake’.
He said: ‘According to my information, no extraordinary investigation… is being conducted in the Presidential Administration regarding the unedited Putin’s greeting that was posted online.
‘It’s just a weekend mistake, which can happen to anyone. And it’s not the first time with the Kremlin itself, by the way. Everywhere, so far, real people are working, not AI.
‘Or that a person can’t clear their throat after a nearly three-minute speech?’
The Russian leader has long been dogged with rumours about his health over reports of mysterious disappearances, trembling hands and more.
He has also made little secret of his fascination with prolonging life, and on Wednesday showed no reluctance to repeat his private musings on longevity at a press conference.
‘Modern means and methods of improving health, even various surgical [operations] involving organ replacement, allow humanity to hope that … life expectancy will increase significantly,’ Putin told reporters in Beijing.
Former intelligence professional Christopher Steele, who headed MI6’s Russia desk between 2006 and 2009, told LBC in 2024 that he thought Putin could be seriously ill.
He said: ‘What we do know is that he’s constantly accompanied around the place by a team of doctors.
‘Meetings of the security council that are shown (on TV) to supposedly last for a whole hour are actually broken up into several sections.
‘He goes out and receives some kind of medical treatment between those sections. So, clearly, he is seriously ill – how terminal or incurable it is is not clear, we can’t be entirely sure.
‘But it’s certainly having a very serious impact on the governance of Russia at the moment.’
Comment now
Comments
Add WTX as a Preferred Source on Google