Putin's reappearance is a sham — he's been out of sight for 8 days now

The Kremlin's attempt to dispel rumours that Russian President Vladimir Putin's health had

deteriorated just backfired again.

   (Business Insider) --- On Friday, Russian state television released footage of the "perfectly healthy" 62-year-old leader meeting with Supreme Court chairman Vyacheslav Lebedev to discuss judicial reform systems — except, the world has already seen this video, in October.

   The video appears in a news report last year:

.

(1TV.RU) Kremlin's statement with the same video today:

(Kremlin/Amanda Macias/Business Insider)

   Putin's rare absence is tallying in at eight days. He was last seen March 5 with the Italian prime minister.

   So far, and without an official explanation, Putin canceled a meeting in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, and a meeting in Moscow with a delegation from the Georgian separatist region of South Ossetia, Reuters reports.

   Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters on Thursday that Putin was in good health and was working as usual. Peskov told Ekho Moskvy radio station Thursday that the president was "absolutely" healthy, adding that the president's handshake was still so strong it could "break your hand," the Associated Press reports.

   Putin is to meet with the president of Kyrgyzstan early next week, the Associated Press reports, citing the Kremlin.

Blogger Note:  The problem with this article is that the backdrops of the photos are clearly different between the meeting last year and the new one. I would need more information to feel comfortable verifying the story one way or the other.  What is most definitely clear is that Putin’s sudden disappearance is hugely out of character for him.