Expert: Vladimir Putin's Disappearance Could Mean Russia's Undergoing a Coup

Is Vladimir Putin dead, dying or a new daddy?

Or is Russia undergoing a coup?

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the closing ceremony of the 2014 Winter Paralympics at the Fisht Olympic stadium in Sochi, Russia, Sunday, March 16, 2014. Putin hasn't been seen in public since March 5, leading the world to wonder where he is — or if he's alive. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

The Russian leader hasn't been seen in public since March 5 and he cancelled a high-profile trip to Kazakhstan last week, so the rumors — some joking, some dire — have been flying.

Some speculate that Putin may have flown to Switzerland to be present for the birth of his secret love child.

Others, including an unnamed Kazakh official, have said it seems Putin is sick.

But Russia-watchers including Michael Caputo and Tom Nichols have put forward a darker theory: Russia is in the middle of a coup, and if hard-liners win, Russian nukes could wind up pointed at the world's major cities.

"One thing is for sure: while this plays out, the world is in far more danger than we were in February," writes Caputo. "Pray for us all."

Of course, the rumors could all amount to nothing, but Russian goings-on haven't exactly assuaged the world's fears.

In a bid to combat rumors of Putin's failing health, the Kremlin released the video below on Friday showing the Russian leader holding a meeting — but the footage wasn't live and the Kremlin did not tell the Associated Press when the meeting had taken place.

Then things got a little weirder on Friday night when Russian TV channel Rossiya 24 reported that Putin had met with Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambayev — days before the meeting was scheduled to take place.

Even before Friday's photos surfaced, Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, was taking pains to quash any rumors of a presidential illness, political or otherwise.

Rossiya 24 admitted to the BBC that the report was a mistake, Business Insider noted.

But Kremlin spokespeople are insisting that Putin is just fine.

"When the sun comes up in spring, and as soon as spring is in the air, then the fever begins," Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday, according to the official Tass news agency.

According to USA Today, Peskov said Putin was "absolutely" healthy and when asked if Putin still had a firm handshake, Peskov said the outdoorsy leader "can break a hand."

Peskov also denied the rumor that Putin had flown abroad for the birth of his love child with mistress Alina Kabayeva.

While the world waits for news of Putin's whereabouts and condition, the hashtag "#ПутинУмер" ("Putin is dead") surfaced on Twitter, gaining steam as people speculated as to the Russian autocrat's fate.

"I'm not dead yet!" #ПутинУмерhttps://t.co/GcJArvN5oy

— Arman Isabekov (@Aznonimus) March 12, 2015

Breaking: Kremlin releases new photo of Putin, who appears to be doing just fine. #ПутинУмер pic.twitter.com/snB7SSvbUE

— Ben Parsons (@bfaparsons) March 13, 2015

This is classic Cold War: Putin just has a cold. #ПутинУмер

— ryutin (@ryutin) March 14, 2015

—

Follow Zach Noble (@thezachnoble) on Twitter