‘Cancer-hit’ Putin’s TV appearances ‘staged with pre-recorded footage to hide week-long absence’, Kremlin insiders claim

VLADIMIR Putin's TV appearances last week were staged with pre-recorded footage to cover-up for a week-long sickness absence, Kremlin insiders have claimed.

It comes amid growing speculation about the Russian tyrant's health after claims he is battling cancer and recent had surgery and chemotherapy.

A source claimed Putin has been absent since last Tuesday, but Russian media used pre-recorded footage to make it appear he was holding meetings at the Kremlin.

And his trusted aide Nikolai Patrushev - a former FSB chief - is now in virtual control of the Kremlin, according to the General SVR Telegram channel which claims to have insider intelligence.

Patrushev is said to have taken the reigns of power and has received top-level briefings that would normally go direct to Putin.

In its latest post, the General SVR channel - which is reportedly run by a Kremlin insider - said key figures believe Putin to be terminally ill and it 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”.

Face to face meetings with Rostech head Sergei Chemezov and Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev were pictured on Wednesday and Thursday.

But the "canned" images were said to have been taken some time ago and were saved to keep up the impression Putin was active.

The Telegram channel added that only Patrushev, the secretary of the security council, 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”.

The same insider 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.

Today's fresh claims come after US filmmaker Oliver Stone - who spent many hours with Putin making documentaries - alleged Putin had suffered from cancer but "licked it" and recovered.

The Russian leader's bizarre appearance recently 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 meeting while in isolation 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.

Meanwhile an ex-MI6 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.