KIEV, Ukraine -- Where's Putin?
It's been over a week since the Russian president made his last public appearance, prompting Muscovites and the world to wonder what's become of him. Hashtags such as #WhereisPutin and #ПутинУмер, which translates to "Putin's dead," are trending.
It's been well over 72 hours so according to Russian law we can file a missing persons report #WhereIsPutin— Simon Ostrovsky (@SimonOstrovsky) March 13, 2015
The last confirmed public appearance of Putin, 62, was at a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on March 5.
His noticeable absence since has the rumor mill abuzz. This week alone, he canceled a trip to Kazakhstan, shelved a treaty signing with South Ossetia and -- perhaps most oddly -- skipped out on a meeting of top officials from Russia's domestic intelligence service, the FSB. That's not like him.
The rumors as to the reason for Putin's disappearance run the gamut, from the president undergoing plastic surgery and needing time to recover, to botched Botox, having a cold, cancer and even death.
A Swiss newspaper wrote that he'd whisked his girlfriend away to Ticino, where she was rumored to have given birth.
This appears to be the original source of the Putin/Kabayeva/Swiss clinic rumour http://t.co/bKfJTSGdca— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) March 13, 2015
In an interview with Ekho Moskvy, Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, tried to quell the rumors, telling the Russian radio station that the president's health is "really perfect." He also noted that his handshake "could break your hand" -- a reference to the president's predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, whose spokesman responded similarly on Aug. 19, 1996 when asked if Yeltsin's handshake was strong after he suffered a heart attack.
#Putin's spox, Peskov, says the president is "absolutely" healthy. Oh, and his handshake is so strong it could "break your hand." So there.— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 12, 2015
Not many believed Peskov, and it wasn't long before an "Is Putin dead?" answer generator popped up online.
That was quick! Newly created website http://t.co/zcvJ5DGLWy is dedicated to Russia's pres health issues.— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) March 12, 2015
"Sorry, but he's still alive" and "No. It stinks in Moscow, but not because of this" are two automated responses of many from the website, whose URL translates to Putin has died.
And then, on Friday, Putin reappeared. Sort of.
In a statement posted to the Kremlin's website, Putin is seen shaking hands and meeting with Russian Supreme Court Chairman Vyacheslav Lebedev.
But with no calendar, newspaper or timestamp in the image, it wasn't enough proof of life for many people.
This is your proof of life? If he ain't holding today's Komsomolskaya Pravda, it didn't happen. http://t.co/OJZp5oPFxu— Christo Grozev (@christogrozev) March 13, 2015
Later on Friday, trying again to stem the gossip, the Kremlin announced that Putin will meet with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in St. Petersburg on Monday.
Perhaps then the public will get a glimpse of Russia's head of state.
Until that happens, the Internet will likely carry on as it has during the the week Putin's been MIA, with memes like the ones below.
Kremlin dismisses rumours over Putin’s health - but that hasn't stopped the #WhereIsPutin memes pic.twitter.com/bA0RVTEl5i— BBC Trending (@BBCtrending) March 13, 2015
#WhereIsPutin pic.twitter.com/HKk0Pr4zsr— Marcin Szeląg (@marcin_szelag) March 13, 2015
Shocking footage from Putin’s secret funeral. #ПутинУмер pic.twitter.com/RGuki3IxY9— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 11, 2015
The Internet Thinks Putin Is Dead http://t.co/KgvedUzmKF via @RFERL #Russia #ПутинУмер pic.twitter.com/tdbw41mpNM— Onnik J. Krikorian (@onewmphoto) March 12, 2015
Official Kremlin template to show my peasants i am perfectly healthy. pic.twitter.com/9T8qzH38Jc— Vladimir Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) March 13, 2015