According to Russian state media, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin left Moscow for the first time four days after the armed uprising of the Wagner mercenaries broke down and traveled to Russia’s Caucasus Republic of Dagestan. TV footage showed Putin bathing in crowds in the Caspian town of Derbent, which he considered unusual. Its appearance fuels speculation as to whether it could be a doppelgänger.
A video released by the state agency Ria Novosti on Telegram shows Putin surrounded by enthusiastic residents of Derbent shaking hands in the dark on Wednesday evening. Then a girl in the crowd asks the head of state for a selfie several times. A recording by a reporter from state television shows Putin kissing the girl on the head, putting his arm around her and then taking a picture with her (see tweet below).
Appearance should strengthen the support
Putin’s trip to the Kremlin-loyal republic so soon after the aborted uprising of the head of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was apparently intended to restore normalcy and restore his damaged authority. Dagestan was probably not chosen by chance: an above-average number of Russian soldiers who died in the war in Ukraine come from the poor region.
Vladimir Putin bathed in the crowd, here in the video:
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin had traveled to the republic to solve the tourist problems there. Dagestan is a popular holiday destination for many Russians. Republican leader Sergei Melikov said during a meeting with Putin about the uprising that all citizens of Dagestan support the decisions “of the president and the commander-in-chief”. Putin replied that he had “no doubts” about the reactions in Dagestan and across the country.
Otherwise very afraid of proximity
It is unusual for the Kremlin chief to walk into a crowd – in Moscow, Putin usually keeps his distance, even at political rallies. According to the research platform “Dossier Center”, founded by the Russian opposition figure, Putin has only traveled by armored train instead of plane since the beginning of the war for fear of an attack. He is also said to have a notorious fear of infectious diseases.
Ukraine’s National Security Council secretary Oleksiy Danilov claimed in April: “In order to speak to the real Putin, you must be quarantined for at least 10 to 14 days.” Kherson made it clear in April that a double was being sent here. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov immediately denied the allegations, calling them “lies”.
“Hasn’t Used Doppelgängers”
The Russian president, coming into contact with the people, again fuels speculation about the use of doubles. Putin has always denied such rumors. After taking office in 2000, he was advised to use a double for official appointments. “The idea came up, but I gave up on the double game,” the Russian president said in February 2020.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
