The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, might undergo cancer surgery while temporarily handing over the power to the secretary of the nation’s Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, as per an unverified report.
The reports added, “His doctors have continuously told Putin that he must undergo an operation.”
The anticipated surgery, as well as recovery, is expected to hinder Putin for a short time, the reports mentioned.
While noting Putin’s supposedly “sickly appearance and uncharacteristically fidgety behaviour in public” in recent times, the reports added that the Russian President had been rumoured to suffer from cancer and a host of other serious maladies, including Parkinson’s disease.
Meanwhile, a US official added that the media reports could not be verified. On Monday, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby stated that “I’ve seen nothing that could help us verify that.”
A few days ago, Putin allegedly had a two-hour “heart-to-heart” conversation with Nikolai Patrushev, the reports said.
The reports claimed that, “We know that Putin signalled to Patrushev that he considers him to be practically his only trusted ally and friend in the government. Additionally, the President promised that if his health takes a turn for the worse, actual control of the nation will temporarily pass into Patrushev’s hands.”
“Patrushev is a villain. He is no finer than Vladimir Putin. Moreover, he is a more cunning, & I would say, more insidious individual than Vladimir Putin. If he rose to power, Russians’ problems will only increase,” as stated by reports.
“Putin is unlikely to decide to hand over power for a lengthier period of time,” the reports further claimed, adding that the nation’s control will likely be in Patrushev’s hands for no more than two to three days.
Russia’s Security Council, of which Patruchev is the secretary, is an influential body that answers directly to Putin and issues guidance on military and security issues within Russia, the report mentioned, adding, that, most of the council’s power is vested in Patrushev, who is widely seen as a staunch Putin ally.
Like Putin, the report said Patrushev is a career Russian intelligence agent, first with the Soviet KGB, then later with the Russian FSB.