Vladimir Putin does use body doubles, Russian investigation claims

08 December 2023 , 18:49

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Vladimir Putin's chin pictured (left to right) on 21 February 2023 in Moscow during the address to the Federal Assembly; on 18 March 2023 during Vladimir Putin's visit to Sevastopol, and on 19 March 2023 on Vladimir Putin's visit to Mariupol (Image: Social media/e2w)

Vladimir Putin uses body doubles and has a strict quarantine method where staff must isolate before becoming close to him, a Russian investigation has uncovered.

A report by Russian media outlet Proekt has sought to show the extent to which Putin distances himself from one-on-one meetings and larger crowds. People who tend to accompany the Russian president spend time in an alleged "clean zone", which originally started at the Sochi-based sanatorium 'Rus', now used as a boarding house where only quarantined people live and work.

A new social media video is spreading like wildfire questioning how many body doubles Putin is using (Social media/EAST2WEST NEWS)

The investigators studied official events that Putin participated in from November 1 last year to October 31 this year. In total he took part in 521 events, and at 43 per cent of them the president was seen to be keeping a distance from his interlocutors by one means or another.

Over the course of 2023, 113 video meetings took place which included nearly all Security Council meetings, as well as all meetings with the government. When Putin is allowed to communicate with people face-to-face, the Kremlin used "wild security measures" the report also claimed.

There were several meetings - specifically 185 - at which Putin was not able to distance himself, but "most likely forced other people to quarantine". According to the report, this was almost 36% of the total for the year.

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The investigation happened as Putin strangely refused to stand within seventy feet of Britain's new ambassador to Moscow at a diplomatic ceremony, due to "sanitary reasons".

Russian President Vladimir Putin (SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Since the invasion of Ukraine, there have been multiple body double reports regarding the Russian president. According to Proekt, before the coronavirus pandemic hit, Putin's schedule had barely any events where he could stay at an distance from those in attendance - which the report claims is a stark difference to his current behaviour.

For a long time, Putin - who is a lover of judo - had leant into an "action man" image, but since turning 71 on October 7, rumours of his poor health have been circulating for a while. In 2020, Putin rejected long-standing rumours that he uses body doubles - but said he had previously been offered to use one for security reasons.

But people have noticed his changing appearance over the years, which suggests he might utilise someone to stand in for him on certain engagements. For example, in June, he visited the city of Derbent in Southern Russia days after the failed Wagner rebellion, and video footage showing how he dived into a night-time crowd as if he were a famed Hollywood star.

Another strange moment saw him shaking hands with an officer and carrying what looked like a nuclear briefcase. It's a different approach to previously, and the Kremlin has described his seemingly altered demeanor as "astounding".

There is much speculation regarding how many body doubles Putin is using (Social media/EAST2WEST NEWS)

This is why so many senior Russian figures believe he is using a body double. The head of Ukrainian military intelligence Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov believes the real Putin has not been spotted since June last year.

In September he stated: "The one, who everyone used to know, was last seen around 26 June 2022." In April, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said reports were abundant regarding Putin's doppelgängers, but he was said the warmonger was "mega-active".

He commented: "Perhaps you had heard that Putin has multiple doubles, who work instead of him while he is sitting inside a bunker. This is yet more lies. This is one more lie. You see our President. He is just as he used to be - mega-active."

Putin has confirmed that his aides formerly asked if he wanted to use body doubles, which was also asked of former Kremlin leaders Stalin and Brezhnev, however the Russian resident said he had rejected the scheme.

Charlie Duffield