VLADIMIR Putin looked pale and sickly as he rambled on for more than two hours in front of a rigid audience, a body language analyst has said.
Professor Erik Bucy told The Sun that the raging tyrant “limped” up to the podium before straining to present a “strongman saviour” front to his glazed listeners.
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Putin delivered a ridiculous two-hour speech in Russia today where he threatened the West with nuclear powerCredit: Reuters
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His vast audience wore glazed expressions and even drifted off during the address
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Mad Vlad today gave a disturbing annual state of the nation address and warned the West about Russia’s nuclear power.
The 71-year-old dictator said consequences for “potential invaders” would be “tragic”, and threatened the “danger of nuclear conflict”.
He bragged about Russia’s Satan-2 nuclear rocket and said the West could be destroyed on its “own territory”.
The long and tedious speech comes ahead of the country’s bogus elections, where he is undoubtedly set to secure another term as dictator.
Dwarfed by enormous staging and hidden behind his podium, Professor Bucy told The Sun today’s speech was Putin’s weak attempt to come across as the “strongman”, and “lone saviour” of Russia.
Instead he appears isolated, and sickly as he limps up to the podium.
Over the next two hours, Bucy says, he consistently shifts his weight from one foot to the other, without ever stepping away from the podium.
His face appears “puffy and pale” and he is “not the portrait of health”.
Professor Bucy said: “Interestingly, Putin walked out to the podium on his own, but the camera shot was set back so you could not see his gait close up.
“It appeared that he was favoring one leg and walking with a slight limp. He doesn’t ever step away from the podium and none of his body behind the stand is visible for anyone to see.
“But he does appear to shift his weight from one side to the other, sharing the strain on his legs to hold himself up.”
The isolated position on the stage, Bucy explains, is an attempt to paint him as “the sole political voice of the nation, alone on a vast stage, communicating the only official view of the nation allowed”.
Throughout the gruelling address – countless Russian elites sit stock-still with frosted expressions or smile blandly and clap when expected.
His obviously staged audience serves to solidify any warped perceptions of being the voice and saviour of Russia.
Professor Bucy told The Sun: “On occasion throughout the speech, muted applause fills the arena in response to Putin’s statements.
“The tone is polite and deferential, as if the audience was coached on what level their applause should be.
“This orchestrated, group response is the only form of reaction the audience engages in.”
Putin, he said, also looks down frequently at his speech, which is “rife with disinformation designed to vilify the west while justifying his regime’s unprovoked aggression in Ukraine”.
“Putin speaks at a rapid clip, shooting out words so as to maintain a sense of urgency.
“The faster he speaks, the more in command of the situation he tries to position himself—and the less time there is for the hand-picked audience to reflect on or question what he is saying.”
“Those in attendance are noticeably careful not to show any disapproving or negative facial expressions in response to what’s said.
“Even the raising of an eyebrow could be construed as an anti-Putin gesture and isn’t worth the risk.”
And the vast stadium-like set up for the address serves to send a message about “Putin’s sole importance as the head of government and the vast distance between himself and anyone else”.
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Hundreds of Russians were gathered to obediently listen to his speech today
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Putin half-hobbled onto the stage with a ‘limp’ before beginning his ridiculous speechCredit: Reuters
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The Russian elites who came to hear him speak barely reacted during the two-hour address
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He was dwarfed on stage but the lavish set-up