Putin‘s Deception Uncovered: Kremlin Uses Office Replicas to Conceal Location & timing of Meetings
Moscow, Russia – An investigation by Radio free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Systema group has revealed a systematic effort by the Kremlin to mislead the public about the location and timing of meetings with Vladimir Putin. the audit, based on analysis of hundreds of images and travel records, demonstrates the use of nearly identical office replicas to create the illusion that Putin is consistently conducting business from his official residence, Novo-Ogaryovo, west of Moscow.
Systema identified three offices used for filming: novo-Ogaryovo, a replica in Sochi on the Black Sea, and another in Valdai, located between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Journalists were able to determine that numerous meetings presented as taking place in Novo-Ogaryovo were, in fact, filmed in either Sochi or Valdai.
The deception relies on subtle differences in the décor of each office. Investigators pinpointed discrepancies such as the positioning of doorknobs relative to wall panels, variations in the shape of TV stands, the shade of tabletops, and the grain of wooden document trays. Such as, the doorknob at Putin’s desk sits slightly lower than a joint in the wall panels in Novo-Ogaryovo, while in Sochi, the handle is positioned just above the joint. The wall panel joint also differs, sitting highest in Valdai, followed by Novo-Ogaryovo, and then Sochi.
The investigation further corroborated its findings with travel documents showing journalists loyal to the regime and members of Putin’s staff traveling to and from Sochi on days when meetings were purportedly held in Moscow.
The use of these office clones appears to have begun at least as early as 2020, with Putin initially favoring the Sochi location. Though,as 2023,Valdai has become the preferred location,hosting almost all meetings this year.
this isn’t the only manipulation of public perception. Systema previously revealed in August that the Kremlin has been releasing older video clips disguised as new footage. As then, at least seven older clips have been presented as current events.
Konstantin Gaaze, a researcher specializing in Russian authoritarianism, suggests the shift to Valdai is driven by security concerns. “It is indeed, of course, about safety,” he stated, explaining that Valdai’s more isolated location makes it easier to defend against drone attacks.
The Kremlin has denied previous reports regarding Putin’s use of doppelgangers, isolation tactics, and the “disinfection tunnels” employed for visitors. This latest investigation adds to growing scrutiny surrounding the clarity of data released by the Russian regime.