俄羅斯總理普京近日宣布將參加明年的總統大選，這樣一來，他在總統寶座的日子估計要持續到他71歲。近一段時間以來，俄羅斯媒體一直都對普京青春煥發的容顏頗感興趣，懷疑他曾經注射肉毒桿菌或做過整容手術。早在去年十月普京在基輔出席會議時，就因為眼周大片青紫傷痕而被懷疑注射了肉毒桿菌。后來其發言人出面否認，稱是現場燈光造成的假象。自那以后，普京的面部輪廓發生變化，皮膚日漸光滑，皺紋也不見了蹤影；再次被質疑是步了意大利總理貝盧斯科尼的后塵去整了容。近日在俄羅斯流行的一個笑話說：“有人責難，稱俄羅斯政壇沒有新面孔；作為回應，普京去整了容。”

The Russian leader has been the subject of intense speculation in Moscow on how he keeps looking so fresh. Botox? Face lift? Fillers?

Has the Russian leader had Botox? Or even something more radical?

With his likely return to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin looks set now to stay in power until he is 71 – but he probably won't look it.

The Russian leader has been the subject of intense speculation in Moscow on how he keeps looking so fresh. Botox? Face lift? Fillers?

The rumours first emerged last October, when Putin showed up to a meeting in Kiev sporting a massive blue-and-yellow bruise around his eye. Botox, concluded Russia's blogosphere. Putin's spokesman was forced to issue denials. "It's probably just how the light fell. The prime minister is tired."

Since then, Putin's face has contorted and smoothed out so much that it's at times unrecognisable. Talking to teens at the pro-Kremlin Nashi youth group's summer camp this year, he was at pains to smile. All wrinkles had disappeared. The blogosphere was at it again – had Putin out- Berlusconi-ed Berlusconi?

Putin and the Italian premier are close friends. It didn't seem like much of a stretch to many that they would share plastic-surgery tips and contacts.

As the reality of Putin's decision that he would return to the Kremlin next year sank in, one joke was doing the rounds: "In response to the charge that there are no new faces in Russian politics, Vladimir Putin got plastic surgery."

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(Agencies)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen ）