After days of rumours and speculations about Russian President Vladimir Putin's health, a state television channel showed footage of the politician working in his home on Friday, making it his first public appearance in more than a week.
Putin was seen in the footage in a meeting with Supreme Court chairman Vyacheslav Lebedev, according to reports.
Putin's absence from public view and his reported cancellation of meetings had sparked speculations about his health, while some sections of the media had also generated reports of a possible love child born to the 62-year-old.
On Friday's television footage, the Russian president was seen in a grey suit and a blue tie, according to The Moscow Times, and appeared to be in good health.
Rumours had gained ground in the days that Putin was believed to be 'missing', including those about his health and some even speculated if Putin 's former romantic interest had given birth to their baby.
"Information that a child has been born to Vladimir Putin is not true," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Forbes Russia on Friday.
On Twitter, the #putinisdead hashtag attracted numerous netizens to lend theories of reasons behind Putin's disappearance, as they poured out funny posts and memes on social media platforms.
After Putin cancelled his meetings in Kazakhstan, a Kazakh official had told a media organisation - "It looks like he has fallen ill".
Putin is now slated to meet Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambayev on 16 March in St. Petersburg.
