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'Absurd canard': Kremlin slams conspiracy theory that Vladimir Putin is dead and a double has replaced him

Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, called the rumors 'absurd information canard'

By Divya Kishore
Updated On : 00:24 PST, Nov 1, 2023
'Absurd canard': Kremlin slams conspiracy theory that Vladimir Putin is dead and a double has replaced him
Russian authorities have reportedly claimed that Vladimir Putin is well and alive (Contributor/Getty Images)

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Russian officials have rebuffed claims spread by conspiracy theorists that Vladimir Putin is not alive anymore and “an attempted coup” could happen in the country.

It has also been alleged that a doppelganger has now been planted to play the role of the 71-year-old leader.

‘I can tell you there are no doubles'

But Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, has called the rumors “absurd information canard,” Daily Mail reported.

He also said, “I can tell you there are no doubles when it comes to work and so on. He is well - this is no more than just another canard.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin speeches during a meeting on development of space and rocket industry while visiting the Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, October 26,2023, in Korolev, Russia. Putin visited Energia, the largest company of Russian space industry, located in Moscow's suburb. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin's speeches during a meeting on the development of space and rocket industry while visiting the Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, October 26, 2023, in Korolev, Russia. Putin visited Energia, the largest company in the Russian space industry, located in Moscow's suburbs. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)

“These [kinds of stories] belong to the category of fake news, discussed with enviable tenacity by a number of media outlets. This brings nothing but a smile [in the Kremlin],” Peskov added.

Putin 'is just as he used to be - mega-active'

Also in April, Putin’s spokesperson dismissed the reports of the leader’s multiple doubles. He asserted at the time, “Perhaps you had heard that Putin has multiple doubles, who work instead of him while he is sitting inside a bunker.”

“This is yet more lies. This is one more lie. You see our president. He is just as he used to be - mega-active,” Peskov mentioned.

‘Security for the president's double has been beefed up’

The denial came after a Telegram post asserted, “Attention! There is currently an attempted coup in Russia! Russian President Vladimir Putin died this evening at his residence in Valdai.”

“At 20.42 Moscow time, doctors stopped resuscitation and pronounced death,” it stated.

The post also alleged that “the doctors are blocked in the room with Putin's corpse, they are being held by members of the presidential security service on the personal orders of Dmitry Kochnev [director of the Federal Guard Service], who is in touch and receives instructions from the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev.”

“Security for the president's double has been beefed up. Active negotiations are underway. Any attempt to pass off a double as the president after Putin's death is a coup,” it added.

Not just that, Russian political analyst Valery Solovey also declared that Putin is no more.

 

Solovey told Dmitry Gordon, "Putin is dead. Absolutely right. He passed away on Thursday, October 26 at approximately 8:40 pm Now he is in the refrigerator compartment of his residence in Valdai."