Putting to rest all rumours and speculations surrounding his mysterious disappearance, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his first public appearance after 10 days.
The Russian leader is in a meeting with hi Kyrgyzstani counterpart Almazbek Atambayev in St Petersburg. Amid speculations that Putin has been overthrown in a coup, Monday's event was keenly being watched by the media worldover.
Putin and Atambayev have been slated to discuss Kyrgyzstan's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union in Monday's meeting.
In the last 10 days, after President Putin mysteriously disappeared from the public eye, several rumours, including some saying he has been 'neutralised' following a coup, hit the online space.
While there were claims that Putin has not been keeping well, some reports stated that former Federal Security Service chief Nikolai Patrushev staged a stealthy coup in Moscow. These rumours were backed by social media claims that showed several tanks outside Kremlin after a three-hour power outage.
There were also speculations that Putin was in Switzerland with his gymnast girlfriend, Alina Kabayeva, who gave birth to his daughter.
The rumours and speculations now can be put to rest. However, the mystery as to where the president was in the last 10 days will still vex political analysts in the coming days.
He's back! Putin reappears "@carlquintanilla: Peek-a-boo.. RT @bi_politics: Putin reappears! http://t.co/YFQ5p5CRWO pic.twitter.com/UYle1raj3A"
— Zeeshan Shah (@zeeshan_shah_dc) March 16, 2015
@DerkMoor Bericht Vladimir Putin - Almazbek Atambayev was gewoon actueel ;-) https://t.co/iGOaNir3dJ pic.twitter.com/GoE2DPvZ5j — Sergio Felter (@sergiofelter) March 16, 2015
