Vladimir Putin To Step Down As Russia’s President Next Year Amid Possible Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be stepping down next year amid health concerns.

There have been a few rumors circling around that Putin, 68, may have Parkinson’s disease, according to the New York Post. Moscow political scientist Valery Solovei told The Sun that Putin’s girlfriend, who is 37, and his two daughters are urging him to step away from the role.

“There is a family, it has a great influence on him. He intends to make public his handover plans in January,” Solovei told the news outlet. Solovei went on to say that Putin recently began showing signs that he may have Parkinson’s Disease.

The outlet reports that he seemed to be in pain while constantly shifting his legs, according to that was footage captured by an observer. His fingers were also twitching while holding a cup that may have contained medicine. The news comes as Russian legislators are thinking about making a law that would give former presidents lifetime immunity from criminal prosecution.

Putin has served two lengthy terms. His first was from May 7, 2000 to May 7, 2008, and then he served again from 2008 until now.