Long-running rumors claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin substitutes a body double for him during public appearances for security or health-related reasons, but the Kremlin made fun of the claims on Tuesday.
In response to questions from reporters about an unfounded story that Putin had a serious health episode on Sunday that was picked up by several Western media sources, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov laughed.
Peskov responded to a follow-up query on whether Putin employs any body doubles by saying, “Everything is fine with him, and this is absolutely another fake,” per a translation by Reuters.
This falls under the umbrella of ridiculous information hoaxes, which a variety of media examine with admirable perseverance. This only makes me grin,” Peskov continued.
Putin has largely based his political success on the perception of him as an energetic, macho “tough guy,” and he has even been pictured topless while riding a horse on hunting and fishing expeditions.
Despite not confirming it, it is widely believed that 71-year-old Putin will run for president once more in 2024 after revisions to the Russian constitution made it possible for him to do so.
In a 2020 interview with Russia’s TASS news agency, Putin, who has previously denied using body doubles, claimed that he had been given the option to use one for security reasons during Russia’s second war over Chechnya in the early 2000s but had declined.
“I resisted getting doubles. Without going into further detail, Putin stated that it occurred during the most challenging period of the war against terrorism.
It’s not the first time the Kremlin has denied such allegations, which frequently surface whenever photos of Putin appear slightly altered, such as when he doesn’t appear to be wearing a watch or has a different skin tone.
You’ve certainly heard that he [Putin] has a lot of doubles who work in place of him while he sits in a bunker, but Peskov, the spokesperson for Putin, again dismissed the body double claims in April.
Peskov referred to it as “yet another lie,” but claimed that “he has always been and is mega-active” in remarks obtained by TASS. The people that work with him and I struggle to stay up with him. One only wants to be as healthy as he is because of his outstanding energy, Peskov added.
He doesn’t sit in any bunkers, of course. This is a falsehood as well,” Peskov continued.
The president, a former Judo champion, is rumored to be exceedingly concerned about his health, and during the Covid-19 outbreak, extraordinarily tight procedures were introduced to prevent his contact with the contagious sickness.