Is Vladimir Putin sick with mystery illness? Kremlin responds to report

A video of Russian President Vladimir Putin sparked reports that he is gravely ill and will soon resign, but the Kremlin has responded.

The Kremlin has denied that Russian President Vladimir Putin will resign in coming months, calling the report “complete nonsense”.

Reports emerged that the Russian strongman has a mystery illness, possibly Parkinson’s disease, after he appeared to shake in a recent video.

The ex-KGB agent also appeared to be in agony while appearing to constantly shift his legs, according to footage reviewed by an observer, The Sun reported.

Reviewed footage also appeared to show his fingers twitching as he held a cup that possibly contained medicine, the report said.

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Moscow political scientist Valery Solovei told The Sunthat the Russian strongman’s 37-year-old girlfriend, Alina Kabaeva, and his two daughters were pushing him to leave office.

“There is a family, it has a great influence on him. He intends to make public his handover plans in January,” Professor Solovei told the news outlet.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin rides a horse during his vacation outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia in 2009. Picture: AFP

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holds a tranquilliser gun in a Russian Academy of Sciences reserve in Russia's Far East, 31/08/2008.

Prof Solovei also suggested Mr Putin may be suffering from Parkinson’s as the president has been seen recently exhibiting symptoms of the disease.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin was in excellent health.

“This is complete nonsense. Everything is fine with the president,” Mr Peskov said, according to state news agency TASS.

Putin, who has controlled Russia for decades, has always projected a tough image. He was famously pictured riding a horse shirtless in Siberia in 2009 and is regularly seen wielding guns.

It comes as politicians in Russia introduced draft legislation to give Putin immunity from prosecution after his presidency.

“The president of the Russian Federation retains immunity upon terminating his authority,” the text says.

“He cannot be held criminally or administratively liable and cannot be detained, arrested or subjected to a search or an interrogation.”