A doppelgänger of Russian President Vladimir Putin may have attended a summit in Tehran this week, according to the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence.
An article in the “Daily Mail” notes that when getting off the plane, the Russian leader looks somewhat awkward. Ukrainian sources said he moved unusually fast and was more alert than in previous public appearances.
Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Major General Kirill Budanov, revealed his suspicions in state reports suggesting that a Putin lookalike may have arrived in Tehran to meet the presidents of Iran and Turkey.
“I’ll just give a hint. Pay attention to the moment when the Russian president gets off the plane. Is that Putin?” he commented.
Whether because of such suspicions or not, the Russian leader’s visit to Tehran certainly attracted the world’s attention. It is only the second time Putin has been abroad since he launched his brutal invasion of Ukraine five months ago.
Two years ago, the Russian president admitted that rulers had considered using doppelgangers, but he claims the idea was rejected.
“I rejected the idea of any doppelgängers,” Putin said on the matter.
At the beginning of the 21st century, when Russia was the target of terrorist attacks, the Russian leader was advised to have a doppelganger to take his place at events where the head of state could be at risk.
Doppelgangers are reported to have been used by former Kremlin leaders such as Joseph Stalin and Leonid Brezhnev.
Meanwhile, political scientist Valerie Solovey disputed CIA Director William Burns’ claim this week that there was no evidence to suggest Putin was seriously ill.
Solovei, who has long claimed that the Russian leader’s health has deteriorated, said: “The Americans, especially the CIA, have information about the real state of health of the Russian president. They definitely know he has serious issues, including mental issues.”
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