Russian President Vladimir Putin has conspicuously cut back on foreign and domestic travel in recent weeks, sparking rumours that an injury is forcing the action-man leader to stay at home.
Mr Putin, inaugurated for a third term in May against a background of popular protests, has been increasingly confined to his suburban Moscow residence, rarely venturing to the Kremlin, let alone abroad.
Russia’s respected Vedomosti daily reported Thursday Mr Putin was indeed suffering from an injury that seems to have forced him to shelve several trips at home and abroad.
Mr Putin has not travelled abroad since a Tajikistan trip on October 5. He was due to begin a visit to India early November, but this was put off at short notice till late December. He also had trips to Turkey and Bulgaria planned in November; these too have been put back till December.
The President is now undergoing treatment for the injury but the main advice of doctors is to refrain from flying, which has a negative effect on the spine, Vedomosti said.