THE recent TV appearances of “cancer-stricken” Vladimir Putin have been staged to hide his week-long absence, Kremlin insiders have claimed.
The claim raises speculation about the Russian President’s health amid rumours he is battling cancer.
Putin appeared slumped on his chair during a meeting with Sergey Chemezov on Wednesday[/caption]

The insider claims that Putin’s meeting on Thursday with Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev was staged[/caption]

Putin’s TV appearance during his meeting with Sverdlovsk Region Governor Yevgeny Kuyvashev on Friday[/caption]
A source has suggested that Russian media have used pre-recorded footage to show Putin in meetings held in the past week.
According to the General SVR Telegram channel, his trusted aide Nikolai Patrushev – a former FSB chief – is now in virtual control of the Kremlin, and is the recipient of top-level briefings that would normally go direct to Putin.
In its latest post, the channel-which is reportedly run by a Kremlin insider- said key figures believe Putin to be terminally ill which has altered the dynamic in Russia.
His absence “since Tuesday” cannot be verified but the channel said his staff “show pre-recorded videos of his meetings”.
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Face to face meetings with Rostech head Sergei Chemezov and Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev supposedly took place on Wednesday and Thursday but these were said to have taken place earlier and been saved to give the impression Putin was active.
The channel added that the secretary of the security council Only Patrushev is currently maintaining official communications with Putin.
It continues: “Putin is sick and has diseases that are incurable, such as oncology, which is at a stage that, today, cannot be cured, Parkinson’s disease and a schizoaffective disorder.”
The Russian leader “is certainly receiving the most advanced, most innovative treatment, and he has the ability to prolong his life, there is no doubt about it”.
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The claim comes a day after US filmmaker Oliver Stone who spent many hours with Putin making documentaries on him alleged Putin earlier had cancer which he had “licked”.
The same insider who alleged that Putin’s TV appearances were based on “canned” footage, last week claimed that Putin had to undergo surgery related to a cancer condition, that caused him to miss his gymnast lover’s Alina Kabaeva’s birthday.
The Russian leader’s bizarre appearance last week sparked rumours that footage of him had been edited while he undergoes treatment for cancer.
During a virtual meeting of Russia‘s security council, Putin‘s head appeared “bloated” with some suggesting it was actually photoshopped.
Back in March, a video posted on Reddit speculated that Mad Vlad has used a green screen to fake a TV appearance after his hand was seen “going through a microphone”.
The Russian tyrant is widely reported to be suffering from cancer and Parkinson’s Disease while a top oligarch has claimed he is “very ill with blood cancer,”
An investigation by Russian independent journalists found that Putin was surrounded permanently by a large medical team led by a specialist thyroid cancer surgeon.
Another version is that he is suffering from abdominal cancer.
In a recent video, Putin seemed to retch and splutter as he gripped the table for support during talks with ally Sergey Chemezov.
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While an ex-Brit spy has claimed “cancer-riddled” Putin is constantly surrounded by doctors.
In April, a video circulated showing Putin “shaking uncontrollably” during a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
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