By Staff writersReports that Vladimir Putin has told officials to fly relatives living abroad back to Russia, leaving many worried about a call of war, are being downplayed by a leading rumour-busting website. The Daily Star reports local media as saying Putin wants Russian officials and politicians to return to the "Fatherland" now. The call extended to elderly relatives overseas and children, even if they are in the middle of the school year. However, snopes.com has reported that althouh Putin did say it, it was "an informal request for Russian officials abroad to return home, but not because they believe war is imminent". Translated from Cyrillic, the piece said that Putin's administration had issued an informal request, not an order, that Russian officials and their family members who are living abroad return home.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 12, 2016 14:26 UTC