Vladimir Putin vanishes again.. but this time on Siberian holiday with Silvio Berlusconi
VLADIMIR Putin has vanished again - but this time the Russian leader is on holiday with his old friend and disgraced former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Putin and Berlusconi on a previous trip to Poland
The autocratic leader spent the weekend with his guest at a vacation home amid the peaks of southern Siberia, according to local reports.
Although a spokesman for Putin confirmed the reports - so far no pictures have been released.
However the leader of a dance troop claimed she performed for Putin and Berlusconi at the remote retreat in the Altai Mountains.
Berlusconi, known to be a close friend of Putin's, has previously hosted the Russian leader's family at his villa on the Italian island of Sardinia.
His mysterious disappearance sparked rumours of ill health, a baby on the way, plastic surgery and even his own death.
Vladimir Putin hands flowers to Alina Kabayeva at recent awards ceremony
They went fishing, walked along the bank of the Katun river, enjoyed local cuisine, and watched a performance of the Altai national dance team
But President Putin used a television appearance soon after to brush off rumours of his supposed disappearing act.
Putin is no stranger to Siberia and previous trips have resulted in topless pictures of the Russian leader on horseback, while others show him swimming in remote rivers.
Now reports suggest that Putin landed at Gorno-Altaisk on Friday, where he is "enjoying the fresh air" of the Altai Mountains with 78-year-old Berlusconi.
The Siberian Times wrote: "They went fishing, walked along the bank of the Katun river, enjoyed local cuisine, and watched a performance of the Altai national dance team."
Leyla Malchieva, dance team choreographer, said her Altai national dance team "performed for the Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Italian prime minister Berlusconi".
She added: "They came up to us, greeted everyone at the beginning of the concert."
The pair kept the dancers waiting, even postponing the performance by a day, but eventually arrived by river boat, she said.
Earlier this year, Berlusconi was acquitted of charges he paid an underage prostitute for sex and used his influence to cover it up.
The pair are said to be staying at a sprawling dacha nicknamed "Putin's palace", which is reportedly owned by energy giant.