29 February 2024 , 12:09
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Vladimir Putin likely has Parkinson’s disease, a former MI6 boss has claimed - as his contacts in Eastern Europe believe there is something ‘fundamentally wrong’ with the Russian leader.
Speaking to LBC, Sir Richard Dearlove, who led the British Secret Intelligence Service when Putin first rose to power in 2000, said concerns over the Russian president's health was “probably" down to Parkinson’s disease. Dearlove also claimed the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny earlier this month “was definitely murder”, adding paranoia suffered by Putin may have been brought on by the disease and contributed to Navalny’s death.
The former spy chief's take comes as Putin delivered his state-of-the-nation address, a rambling speech in which he claimed NATO is preparing to attack his country - and vowed to retaliate with nuclear weapons. Even as opposition - albeit swiftly stamped upon - is voiced within Russia over its continuing invasion of Ukraine, Putin hailed his country's national unity.
Former MI6 boss Sir Richard Dearlove thinks Putin may have Parkinson's disease (AFP via Getty Images)Earlier this month, Putin appeared to use his hand to control his shaking leg during the two-hour interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, prompting further speculation about his health. Responding to a question about "how well or sick" the Kremlin leader is, the former MI6 boss responded: “I do not have a clear answer to that, but I have contacts and friends still in eastern Europe who think that there is something fundamentally wrong with him medically. But I’m not a clinician.”
He added that it was “probably Parkinson’s, which of course has different representations, different variations, different seriousness. But if the man is paranoid - and I think the murder of Navalny might suggest a certain paranoia - that is one of the symptoms.”
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Russian opposition leader Navalny died on February 16 at the age of 47, while serving time in a remote prison in the Arctic circle. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unknown as he seemed in high spirits at a court appearance a day prior. US president Joe Biden is one of many who believe Putin had something to do with his death. "I think one has to include it was definitely murder," said Dearlove, who was the head of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 1999 until 2004.
There have been rumours about the health of the Russian president for a while now. In May 2022, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had to reassure Russian supporters of the regime that Putin wasn't seriously ill after reports suggested he was being treated for blood cancer.
In July that year, CIA director William Burns said there was no proof to suggest Putin was ill, adding, "As far as we can tell, he is absolutely too healthy". But a few months later, former British Army chief Lord Richard Dannatt said Putin's hands - which appeared to display strange marks and turn a different colour - meant he was possibly unwell and receiving injections.
There have been rumours about the health of the Russian president for a while (Getty Images)Parkinson's disease is a condition which progressively damages parts of the brain over many years. According to the NHS, the main symptoms are involuntary body tremors, slow movement, and stiff and inflexible muscles. It can also cause a host of other physical and psychological symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, insomnia, and memory problems.
While paranoia isn't listed as a symptom on the NHS website, charity Parkinson’s Foundation says between 20 and 40 per cent of people with the condition “report the experience of hallucinations or delusions”. They add that Parkinson’s is a common condition affecting more than 10 millions people worldwide. After Alzheimer's, it is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease. Most people show symptoms over the age of 50 and it is slightly more common in men than women.
Despite there being no specific cure, treatment is available to ease symptoms and help maintain a good quality of life. The NHS website says: “Parkinson's disease does not directly cause people to die, but the condition can place great strain on the body, and can make some people more vulnerable to serious and life-threatening infections. But with advances in treatment, most people with Parkinson's disease now have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.”