Russia's Lavrov dismisses report that he was taken to hospital at G20 - Reuters

NUSA DUA, Indonesia, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov connected Monday dismissed a quality bureau study that helium had been taken to infirmary with a bosom condition, scolding Western journalists for what helium formed arsenic mendacious reporting.

Associated Press, citing Indonesian officials, said Lavrov had been taken to infirmary aft arriving connected the land of Bali for a Group of 20 summit. AP said Lavrov, 72, had been treated for a bosom condition.

"This, of course, is the tallness of fakery," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Zakharova posted a video of Lavrov, President Vladimir Putin's overseas curate since 2004, sitting outdoors connected a patio, dressed successful shorts and a T-shirt and speechmaking documents.

Asked astir the report, Lavrov said Western journalists had been penning falsely for a decennary that Putin, 70, was ill.

"This is simply a benignant of crippled that is not caller successful politics," Lavrov said with an ironic smile. "Western journalists request to beryllium much truthful - they request to constitute the truth."

Lavrov, who arrived successful Bali connected Sunday evening, said Western media routinely took a partial presumption of events and ignored Russia's constituent of view.

Bali Governor I Wayan Koster told Reuters that Lavrov had concisely visited Sanglah Hospital successful Bali for a "check-up" but that the curate was successful bully health.

"He was successful bully wellness and aft the check-up helium instantly left," the politician said.

Associated Press said it stood by its story.

"To beryllium clear, AP ne'er reported Lavrov was 'hospitalized'," said Lauren Easton, AP vice president of Corporate Communications.

"We reported helium had been taken to the hospital, and enumerated the fig of sources providing that information."

SEASONED DIPLOMAT

Lavrov is Russia's longest-serving overseas curate since Soviet times, erstwhile Andrei Gromyko, nicknamed "Mr Nyet" successful the West for his uncompromising approach, held the station for 28 years.

A postgraduate of the prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Lavrov speaks fluent English and French and besides Sinhalese, having worked arsenic a Soviet diplomat successful Sri Lanka.

Before becoming overseas minister, Lavrov served arsenic Russia's imperishable typical to the United Nations.

Sometimes nicknamed "Dr No" successful the West, helium is known for his acerbic remarks, particularly astir interlocutors whom helium considers poorly prepared.

Before Russia's penetration of Ukraine, Lavrov repeatedly dismissed U.S. and British assertions that Putin was preparing to bid an invasion.

After the West imposed the astir stringent sanctions successful modern past connected Russia, Lavrov said Moscow would crook distant from the United States and its allies and alternatively grow relations with countries successful Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Kevin Liffey and Gareth Jones

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.