Russian President Vladimir Putin experienced a coughing fit during a pre-recorded address for International Women's Day over the weekend.
Incident Details
During the address, Putin paused mid-sentence and coughed repeatedly. He commented:
"You know, let me say that again, because … my throat’s a bit scratchy. Yes, a bit scratchy. I almost started coughing. I’ve been talking a lot today."
Kremlin Response
The unedited footage was initially posted on the Kremlin’s official social media accounts. Within minutes, it was removed and replaced with a shorter version that did not show the coughing incident. The Kremlin later stated that the original clip was posted by accident.
Context
This event occurred amid continuing discussions regarding President Putin's health.