All news

Putin continues to work when ill — presidential spokesman

Even when the president falls ill, he continues working, Peskov said commenting on The Times' reports that Putin disappeared from the public view for some time in early March because of illness
Dmitry Peskov (left) and Vladimir Pitin AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Dmitry Peskov (left) and Vladimir Pitin
© AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin does not take a sick leave from work when he falls ill and continues to fulfil his occupational duties, the presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on Friday.

"Even when he (Putin) falls ill, he goes on with his work," Peskov said commenting on The Times' reports that the Russian leader got sick at the beginning of March and so he "disappeared from the public view" for some time.

"The Times knows better, sure thing," Peskov said jokingly.

After rumours began circulating in some media outlets about the Russian president’s illness in early March, Peskov refuted the allegations and said he would no longer make any comments regarding Putin’s health. He linked the flow of this information to side effects of the "spring fever" suffered by those who were spreading such assertions.

Later, Putin said with a smile: "Life would've been too dull without rumours."