The Kremlin has denied speculation that Vladimir Putin is on the brink of resigning, after a new law that would grant him lifetime immunity from prosecution sparked reports he was about to stand down for health reasons. Mr Putin, who has already led the country for two decades, won the right to extend his rule until 2036 when Russians approved changes to the constitution in a referendum this summer. But some analysts suggested the president had no intention of staying on for another 16 years, and that the changes simply allowed him to set his own timetable for departure rather than serve as a “lame duck” until his current term ends in 2024. A raft of legislation considered by MPs this week added fuel to that speculation, including a law that would grant former presidents immunity from prosecution even after leaving office. Another law proposed they also be made senators for life. Mr Putin’s spokesman, however, dismissed the rumours as “nonsense”, rubbishing a British tabloid report that the president was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and that his family had urged him to step down. “The president is doing well,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday. Mr Putin, Russia’s longest-ruling leader since Stalin, has made several televised addresses since the start of the coronavirus pandemic but has rarely appeared in public. The 68-year-old has held talks with officials via video-link from a windowless bunker, though some meetings have been conducted in person. Over the course of his rule, the president has emphasised his rude health, with photo opportunities of topless horse rides, river walks and judo matches.
