Fact Check: Is Vladimir Putin About to Have ‘Emergency Colon Surgery’?

Claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin is sick and is about to undergo an emergency procedure have resurfaced in recent days, following on from unverified reports that the 70-year-old Russian leader fell down the stairs and “soiled himself.” Putin’s health has been subject to fervent speculation for years, with multiple claims, usually attributed to anonymous sources, variously suggesting an onset of Parkinson’s, cancer and other problems, potentially “terminal.” Many of those claims have been proven false by the sheer fact the Russian president is still alive and able to carry on with his job, but that has not stopped the narrative from resurfacing.