Russian President Vladimir Putin it was recorded as cough and ends the speech with difficulty in a video that was briefly posted on the Kremlin's official channel and then quickly removed from the Internet. The recording was made during an address on the occasion of International Women's Day, the British Telegraph reported.
In the raw version of the video, Putin interrupts his speech several times, clears his throat and coughs for about thirty seconds, while pointing his hand towards his neck. At one point he says that he needs to say part of the message again because his "throat is a little scratchy" and adds that he talked a lot that day.
The clip was posted on the Kremlin's Telegram channel just minutes before it was removed and replaced with a shortened, edited version in which the coughing is not visible.
The incident generated a lot of attention on social networks and in the media, as the Russian president's public appearances are usually carefully directed to maintain the image of a strong and healthy leader.
Some commentators and political analysts believe that the raw footage may have been accidentally released, while others speculate that it may have been deliberately "leaked". The Kremlin downplayed the incident and said it was a publishing error.
The appearance of the video has again fueled discussions about the health of the Russian president, about whom there have been various speculations for years, although the Russian authorities regularly deny such allegations.
Source: Telegraph.co.uk
