The Kremlin has dismissed contemporary hypothesis that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ailing and known as rumours that he makes use of a physique double an “absurd hoax”.
The feedback from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov got here after the Common SVR Telegram channel, which often alleges Mr Putin is terminally ailing with most cancers, claimed he suffered “cardiac arrest” on Sunday night.
“All the things is okay with him, that is completely one other pretend [story],” Mr Peskov mentioned when requested in regards to the reviews throughout his common media briefing on Tuesday morning.
He then known as claims that the Russian chief has a physique double an “absurd hoax”.
Hypothesis over a Putin physique double goes again years.
The 71-year-old admitted in 2020 that he had in fact been offered the chance to use a body double for his safety prior to now, however mentioned he rejected the supply.
Sky Information’ Moscow correspondent Diana Magnay answered a reader’s query on this topic in our War in Ukraine blog just lately.
The query was: “Is there any fact to rumours Putin has a physique double? He appeared to get again throughout Russia in a short time after assembly Kim for a person who doesn’t fly is all I am saying…”
Magnay wrote in response…
“Autocrats having physique doubles is a well-liked conspiracy concept and I’ve little doubt nicely sufficient substantiated in some situations. However actually, past just a few bizarre images now we have no clear proof that Putin makes use of physique doubles.
“The Kremlin denies it as clearly it might, however the hypothesis round sure pictures or moments tends to stem from Ukrainian sources or the tabloid press and people are by no means that dependable vis-a-vis Russia.
“Vladivostok to Moscow is just a little over eight hours in the event you’re flying industrial, which Putin would not. He has his personal presidential jet, the Ilyushin Il-96, which flew him to Vladivostok on 11 September, assembly with Kim Jong Un on the Vostochny Cosmodrome on the thirteenth and again in Moscow for a safety council assembly on the 14th. And if you must watch as lots of the Kremlin dwell telegram feeds of Putin at these varied occasions as I do, they give the impression of being – and sound – like him.
“Folks query whether or not he would have risked wading into crowds and hugging babies in locations like Dagestan having spent a lot of the COVID period in quarantine and on the different finish of lengthy tables.
“Putin is remarkably adaptable and must really feel cherished by his folks. After Prigozhin’s coup, that was the technique the Kremlin adopted, to place Putin entrance and centre once more, and it was a job he threw himself into.
“In fact, the Ukrainians and the likes of Alexey Navalny like to color him as a coward hiding away in his bunker however the actuality is, he is in all probability obtained a bit extra backbone than they provide him credit score for.”
The Kremlin launched new images of Mr Putin on Tuesday after he met deputy prime minister and minister of business and commerce Denis Manturov on the Kremlin.