Reports have been circulating about Vladimir Putin’s health since a Russian Telegram channel claimed that he suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening. The channel, General SVR, reported that the Russian President had collapsed in his room and was resuscitated by doctors who were ‘on duty at the residence’. Since, British news outlets have picked the story up and given it a certain credibility in the UK.
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However, Russia has denied all claims that the Russian President is unwell. On Tuesday 24 October, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that ‘everything is fine’ with Putin. Peskov also denied claims that Putin uses double doubles - something he is often believed to do to cover ill health or provide extra security. Yet, that hasn’t stopped General SVR from insisting that their story is true. Let’s look at their most recent claims.
General SVR’s claims
The channel has doubled down on their report about Putin’s cardiac arrest. They are now claiming that Putin, having been resuscitated, is lying ‘in a room equipped as an intensive care ward in his residence, connected to equipment that monitors his vital parameters’. The post dates from yesterday, 24 October 2023, and states:
After cardiac arrest on Sunday evening, the attending doctors assess the condition of the Russian President as stable and serious and consider the prospects without optimism.
This message was posted hours before Peskov denied these claims about Putin’s health.
Putin using a body double?
Putin has reportedly continued his duties as normal since these reports have surfaced: he spoke on the phone with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and met with the leader of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Kazbek Kokov. However, General SVRclaims that this is not Putin, but rather an ‘unexpectedly well-coiffed double of Russian President’.
This comes as rumours of Putin sending a body double to China are also doing the rounds. General SVR claims to have insider information but given that the reports have been dismissed by the Kremlin and the Telegram channel has no proof, we will have to wait to find out if there is any truth to their reports.
Read more:
⋙ Putin is ‘aging’: Russian ex-propagandist reveals when Russia is likely to ‘collapse’
⋙ Vladimir Putin: New calendar of Russian leader sparks health concerns for this bizarre reason
⋙ Putin humiliated in front of his ‘dear friend’ Xi Jinping in Beijing
Sources used:
Express: Putin 'lying in private intensive care unit in his own home' as health rumours swirl
Forbes: Kremlin Denies Rumors Of Putin Body Double Amid Heart Attack Claims
