The Kremlin has quietly tried to remove footage of Russian President Vladimir Putin coughing and struggling to breathe during a speech, as rumors about his health problems mount. Putin, 73, was caught on camera talking repeatedly and trying to clear his throat while filming a pre-recorded speech to mark International Women’s Day over the weekend. In the unedited video, Putin can be seen pausing in mid-speech, coughing and gesturing to someone off-screen. “You know, let me say it again, because… my throat is a little itchy. Yes, a little itchy. I almost started coughing. I talked a lot today,” the dictator said, according to the Moscow Times. The video was posted on the Kremlin’s official social media account but was abruptly deleted minutes later. It was quickly replaced by a shorter version that showed no sign of Putin’s cough. The Kremlin insists the original clip was released by accident. Still, the Russian strongman has been dogged by rumors about his failing health in recent years, including reports of a stroke, multiple bouts of cancer and even Parkinson’s disease.
Putin suffers coughing fit in accidentally published video during Women’s Day address
