Russian President Vladimir Putin will not hold his annual television program in which he receives citizens’ communications live for the first time in nearly two decades.
The newspaper “The Moscow Times” said that Putin has been accustomed since 2004 during the month of June of each year to appear on a television program called “The Direct Line”, in which ordinary citizens talk about their daily problems directly to the Russian leader.
The newspaper quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that the event will take place at a later time.
The Russian government announced last week that Putin may appear on the “Direct Line” program after the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will be held from June 15-18.
The newspaper pointed out that the Kremlin had postponed another regular presidential event, which is Putin’s speech to the Russian Federal Assembly, last April, without setting a new date for it.
These events come in conjunction with Western reports that Putin has been suffering from illness since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, when many were quick to highlight cases in which he appeared pale or ill.
Several videos have emerged showing what are said to be indications of Putin’s ill health. Al-Hurra was not able to verify the authenticity of these videos.
During his D-Day public appearance last month, Putin appeared to limp as he walked and then appeared with a blanket on his lap.
Also in early May, a video of a meeting held in mid-February was broadcast, showing Putin shaking uncontrollably as he greeted Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Another video, released in April, showed Putin holding the corner of a table with his right hand as soon as he sat down for a meeting, and it remains that way throughout the 12-minute video.
He was also seen intermittently holding the edge of the table with his left hand during a conversation with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.