Less than a week after the Kremlin dismissed reports of Vladimir Putin suffering a cardiac arrest, it has now rejected claims that the Russian President passed away at his Valdai residence near Moscow. This report about Putin’s demise emerged from the Telegram channel General SVR, which has long maintained that the Russian President was suffering from terminal cancer.
The channel alleged that an internal “coup” was underway in Russia, orchestrated by those close to Putin, with the intent of substituting his body double as the actual president. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Putin, swiftly refuted these allegations, describing them as an “absurd information canard.”
Earlier this week, Peskov had laughed off persistent rumours that Putin was ill and used body doubles to cover for him in public appearances. “Everything is fine with him, this is absolutely another fake,” the Kremlin spokesman said when asked about an unsourced report by a Russian Telegram channel.
Responding to a further question about body doubles, Peskov earlier had said, “This belongs to the category of absurd information hoaxes that a whole series of media discuss with enviable tenacity. This evokes nothing but a smile.”
After these reports emerged, UK outlet Mirror argued the General SVR channel may be backed by individuals who were once in Putin’s inner circle but have now lost their influence. The erroneous report could potentially signify a power struggle amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
General SVR had previously claimed, “Vladimir Putin is living out the last days of his earthly life.” Over the years, there have been numerous unverified reports and rumors regarding the Russian President’s health. These alleged health issues range from thyroid cancer and Parkinson’s disease to leprosy and the aftermath of a stroke. On Tuesday, the Kremlin found itself compelled to refute speculations about the Russian leader suffering a cardiac arrest in his bedroom, which came after earlier denials regarding claims of him soiling himself.
Putin, a judo enthusiast who has long cultivated an “action man” image, turned 71 on October 7. There has been persistent speculation surrounding Putin’s health, raising questions about the future of Russia in the event of his passing. The Russian leader maintains an intensive schedule of meetings and public appearances, many of them televised. Putin’s recent programme included a visit to China last week, with stop-offs in two Russian cities on the way back.
(With agency inputs)