Putin's mysterious absence has Moscow a-buzz with rumors

Fortune ^ | March 12, 2015 | by Geoffrey Smith

[Jim Robinson]

Chechen leader’s brazen support for murder raises fears of a bitter power struggle close to the heart of the Russian state.

Is he ill? Is he too busy trying to contain a power struggle at the top of the Russian state? Is he really going to fire Igor Sechin, his strong right arm?

Moscow is awash with rumors about President Vladimir Putin, who hasn’t been seen in public in nearly a week. He’s also postponed a trip to meet with the presidents of Kazakhstan and Belarus, two important neighbors, and–even more intriguingly–skipped one of his favorite diary items, an annual address to his old colleagues at the Federal Security Service, or FSB (successors to the KGB).

A country that depends on a personality cult around a strong, unifying leader doesn’t need this kind of absenteeism. After all, it’s less than six months since Vyacheslav Volodin, Putin’s deputy chief of staff at the Kremlin, told an audience of international analysts and journalists that “Without Putin, there is no Russia.” By the government’s own logic, the prolonged absence of Putin begs the question–what is happening to the Russian state?

Things look even fishier, viewed close up. The newspaper RBC exposed inconsistencies in the Kremlin’s version of what Putin is supposed to have been doing earlier this week. RBC’s sources “close to the Kremlin” said that, of two meetings with regional governors that supposedly happened at the Kremlin this week, one was done remotely, and the other took place last Thursday.

[Jim Robinson]

ping

[Kozak]

Hopefully he’s in his terminal phase of Neurosyphilis

[SandRat]

A Kremlin KOLD?

[UCANSEE2]

He’s probably at home reading through all of Hillary’s emails.

[TaxPayer2000]

He’s not dead Jim......

[Thunder90]

The Prime Minister, Dmitri Medeviev, was sent on those missions to meet with the leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan.

[Talisker]

Its doubly weird, because not only is he MIA, it’s happened exactly when this whole Hillary email issue blew up.

[cookcounty]

"He’s probably at home reading through all of Hillary’s emails."

Hahaha!

….but actually not so funny.

[DesertRhino]

I’m wondering if this is related to the assassination of that other guy last week in sight of the Kremlin. I’m thinking they are making sure there are no other plots afoot before its business as usual.
You can bet if Beohner was assassinated within sight of the Capitol, Obama wouldn’t be out in public much this week.

That assassination must have been a bigger deal there than we understand. Or,,, they might think the side that blames Putin might try some sort of revenge.

But as they say, there is a lot of “chatter” out there.

[KC_Lion]

Maybe Commissar Vlad was proving to be more trouble than he was wroth.

Doses of Plutonium does a Body Bad.

These things do happen.

[ansel12]

In return, he has been one of Putin’s loudest and most loyal lieutenants (in the presidential elections in 2012, 99.76% of voters in Chechnya voted for Putin).

That is impressive, if he had done better in the debates, perhaps he could have improved on that 99.76%.

[annalex]

I think a coup in Moscow is very likely these days. Here are some Russian sources, with pictures: Internet rumor: Putin gone, Medvedev takes over

[EternalVigilance]

No matter how powerful you are, God always has the veto on your next breath.

[Rodamala]

By the government’s own logic, the prolonged absence of Putin begs the question–what is happening to the Russian state?

Good grief. What happened to writing? Editing? These hacks write about logic... but don't even know what "Begging the question" means.

Sorry, it's just a real pet peeve of mine. That is all.

[ozzymandus]

Pec implants gone wrong.

[Syncro]

Hmmm, he’s just hiding from the assassins that he doesn’t control.

KC_, maybe the “wroth” of God...?

[barmag25]

He’s hiking the Appalachian trail

http://m.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/03/vladimir-putin-missing-rumors/387652/

[caww]

A little history on this guy.....Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov.

He is the 'President of Chechnya ....son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov', assassinated in May 2004.

In February 2007 Kadyrov replaced Alu Alkhanov as President, shortly after he had turned 30, which is the minimum age for the post..... He has the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and was awarded the Hero of Russia medal, the highest honorary title of Russia.....

Kadyrov was engaged in violent power struggles; with fellow Chechen government warlords Sulim Yamadayev and Said-Magomed Kakiev for overall military authority, and with Alu Alkhanov for political authority.

As President of Chechnya, Kadyrov has been credited for bringing some peace and stability to the region... He has also launched federally-sponsored renovations of the Chechen capital Grozny, which have completely transformed the war-ravaged city....

On the other hand, he has come under heavy criticism from international press and even at times, Russia, for allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

I get the impression Putin is not always supportive of this fellow.

[GeronL]

He is Putin’s hand-chosen puppet