Latvian president releases video from hospital bed to dispel rumors

Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis Tuesday released a video from hospital in which he thanks people and medics for the support he has received since his hospitalization.

Guntis Pukitis, the head of the president's office, said at a news conference that the video was shot in response to "rumors that had suddenly started circulating" about the president's health condition following recent heart surgery.

The footage shows Vejonis in a hospital bed connected to catheters. The president thanks Latvia's people and medics for their huge support.

The head of the president's office blamed journalists and social media for spreading rumors. In his words, some reporters had formulated their questions so that they already contained answers which in addition were incorrect.

Doctors from Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, where Vejonis is recovering after the heart operation, said the president had a minor congenital heart defect.

President Vejonis is in stable condition but continues to receive intensive care after undergoing heart surgery. During the surgery, the president's heart valve, which was affected by septic infection, was replaced with a prosthetic one. Endit