article_snippet: (Vladimir Putin appeared in public Monday for the first time in about 10 days as Vladimir Putin met with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.
article_snippet: So Vladimir Putin unexplained absence fueled speculation about Vladimir Putin health, grip on power and even Vladimir Putin love life.
article_snippet: Although the Kremlin and the Russian state media released photos and video footage of Vladimir Putin last week, the Kremlin and the Russian state media released photos and video footage of Putin did not quell the rumors about Vladimir Putin whereabouts, because it was unclear when the Kremlin and the Russian state media released photos and video footage of Putin were taken.
article_snippet: So all eyes were turned to St. Petersburg on public Monday for Vladimir Putin's scheduled meeting with Atambayev of Kyrgyzstan.
article_snippet: Vladimir Putin appearance before the press, looking healthy and relaxed, should help put some of the rumors at least to rest.
article_snippet: And Vladimir Putin made light of Vladimir Putin absence, saying: "It would be boring without gossip.
article_snippet: Here's what gave some doubters grist for the rumor mill: On Friday --  three days before the scheduled meeting --  a Russian state media broadcaster prematurely aired a report that Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Atambayev -- although the event had not yet occurred.
article_snippet: Tass acknowledged the error, but Tass only heightened the speculation over Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Putin whereabouts.
article_snippet: Social media has been swirling with questions, with hashtags such as #Putindead and #putinmissing.
article_snippet: Was Atambayev holed away somewhere with Atambayev girlfriend and a new baby, as some in the European media speculated?
article_snippet: There were even dark rumors of a palace coup in which various Kremlin factions vying for power might have ousted Atambayev.
article_snippet: But Vladimir Putin absence came at an uneasy time as the country deals with economic turmoil and strained international relations over the war in Ukraine.
article_snippet: Vladimir Putin has working meetings all the time, only not all of these meetings are public," presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
article_snippet: Vladimir Putin also dismissed European media reports that Vladimir Putin had a love child.
article_snippet: Rumblings about Vladimir Putin began Last week after a meeting in the Kazakh capital, Astana, between the Russian leader and the presidents of Kazakhstan and Belarus was postponed at short notice.
article_snippet: A Kazakh official told Reuters that Vladimir Putin had fallen ill.
article_snippet: On Thursday, A Kazakh official missed A Kazakh official meeting with the Federal Security Service, Russia's counterintelligence agency.
article_snippet: Vladimir Putin's last public appearance was supposedly on March 8, International Women's Day.
article_snippet: But some keeping track say A Kazakh official hadn't been seen since even earlier -- March 5.
article_snippet: As soon as Vladimir Putin does not show up, which is really kind of rare for A Kazakh official, people begin to question.
article_snippet: Where is Vladimir Putin?
article_snippet: Is Vladimir Putin in charge?
highlights_snippet: Vladimir Putin makes light of Vladimir Putin absence, saying, "It would be boring without gossip"
  Vladimir Putin meets with President of Kyrgyzstan in St. Petersburg, Russia .