Russia President Vladimir Putin is likely to quit in January amid fears he has Parkinson's disease, Moscow sources have claimed. As per media reports, Vladimir Putin (68) is being urged by his family to retire amid health concerns. Putin’s 37-year-old girlfriend, Alina Kabaeva, and his two daughters are pushing him to leave office, a report in New York Post quoted Moscow political scientist Valery Solovei as saying.


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

The political scientist claimed that Putin may be suffering from Parkinson’s as the president has been seen recently exhibiting symptoms of the disease.

“Observers who studied recent footage of Putin noted his legs appeared to be in constant motion and he looked to be in pain while clutching the armrest of a chair. His fingers are also seen to be twitching as he held a pen and gripped a cup believed to contain a cocktail of painkillers,” a report in The US Sun claimed.

The speculation has come amid Russian lawmakers considering legislation proposed that would grant ex-presidents lifetime immunity from criminal prosecution.