Putin: Black Eye Or Jet Lag? (PHOTOS)
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Was it a judo sparring match? A dental exam? Plastic surgery? A simple case of jetlag?
Dark shadows and heavy makeup have prompted speculation that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has suffered more than a political black eye as he visits Kiev for trade talks, reports the BBC. A press conference was cut short and a planned dinner was canceled, says the AP.
Putin appeared to have swelling and dark marks around his eye and cheekbone, which seemed to be covered in a thick layer of orange colored foundation. The Guardian remarked that, "In pictures from Kiev, the make-up on Putin's face appeared to have been so hastily applied that it stopped at a tide line in the middle of his forehead." Ukraine's newspaper Levy Bereg speculated what many were wondering, asking in a headline, "Did Putin have a facelift?" according to CBS News.
Putin has been known in the past for abstaining from makeup at public appearances, unlike many other world leaders, reports the New York Post. Silvio Berlusconi, the 74-year-old Italian prime minister and Putin friend who is in the news for an alleged dalliance with an underage prostitute, is often rumored to have undergone plastic surgery, says the AFP, but Putin so far has denied any such rumors about himself.
Putin's spokesmen have denied the allegations, saying that the prime minister was the victim of a busy schedule and "poor lighting," says the Guardian.
What do you think? Is the PM sporting a shiner, or just having a rough day? Check out the pictures below and vote:
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First Posted: 10/28/10 02:23 PM ET Updated: 05/25/11 07:10 PM ET