[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Speculation about Russian President Vladimir Putin's health issues has resurfaced. Following recent concerns about impaired judgment due to excessive steroid use, there are claims that he has also undergone treatment for a thyroid-related illness.
Recently, the British daily The Times highlighted President Putin's health condition, citing reports from the Russian investigative media outlet Proekt.
According to the report, Proekt analyzed publicly available government documents and confirmed that over a four-year period starting in 2016, when President Putin stayed at his residence in Sochi or disappeared for several days, the doctors responsible for the president stayed at hotels near the residence.
Reviewing the list of medical personnel, the outlet reported that on average nine doctors accompanied President Putin until 2019. Among them, two otolaryngologists and a surgeon specializing in thyroid cancer regularly appeared.
Otolaryngologist Alexey Sheglov visited President Putin's residence 59 times over 282 days, while thyroid specialist Yevgeny Silivanov visited 35 times over 166 days, according to the tally.
Based on this, the media outlet suggested that President Putin is likely receiving treatment for thyroid issues. They also noted that the presence of anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, and intensive care unit doctors on the list indicates that he may have undergone surgery at least twice.
In particular, the report claimed that President Putin might have had surgeries in 2016 and 2019, years when the number of doctors staying with him significantly increased. The year 2016 was a period when President Putin was absent from public appearances for some time. At that time, rumors circulated that he had injured his leg in a horseback riding accident, causing him to limp.
Meanwhile, speculation about President Putin's health has been ongoing. In 2015, after a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, President Putin disappeared from public view for several days, sparking rumors about health problems, side effects from plastic surgery, and even coup attempts.
Recently, there have been claims that President Putin is suffering from "Roid Rage" caused by excessive steroid use.
On the 13th of last month, foreign media including the New York Post cited a source from the Western intelligence alliance Five Eyes, familiar with Kremlin affairs, reporting that President Putin's inability to make proper decisions in the Ukraine war and his paranoid behavior are likely due to brain diseases such as dementia or Parkinson's disease.
According to foreign media, the source said that those around President Putin have recently noticed a significant decline in his persuasiveness and clarity, and that he is currently not receiving briefings on the failures of the Russian military.
They added that this could be due to "Roid Rage," a side effect that appears when steroids are taken long-term for treating Parkinson's disease, dementia, or cancer.
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