Putin reappears in public for first time in 10 days at meeting with Atambayev

Putin welcomes Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev to the Constantine Palace, near St Petersburg,

Putin reappears in public: After disappearing from public view for an unprecedented ten days,  Russian President Vladimir Putin materialised today at a meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev  in the Constantine Palace near St Petersburg. Putin would not  give a reason for his absence but told journalists that “it would be boring  without the gossip.” 
A statement from the Kremlin said that today’s meeting with Mr Atambayev would discuss “continued steps to develop bilateral co-operation, particularly trade and investment ties, cultural and humanitarian contacts, and relations in the energy sector.”  The two men were also due to discuss the former Soviet nation’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union.
Putin’s absence over the past 10  remains a mystery, however  with rumours abounding  that  his alleged girlfriend, the former gymnast Alina Kabaeva,  had given birth to their child in Switzerland; that there  had been an alleged coup; that the noticeably youthful 62-year-ld president had had plastic surgery; or that he had either been suffering from flu or back troubles but wanted any illness to remain a secret in order to protect his ‘strong man’ image. Whatever the truth of  the matter, rumours of his death appear to have been greatly exaggerated.