Lauge Risom Koch 
Putin has faced fresh mockery over his appearance following Moscow’s Victory Day parade, as critics point to growing security fears and speculation about his health.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has faced a wave of criticism and ridicule following his appearance at Moscow’s Victory Day parade.
Critics and commentators pointed to the Kremlin leader’s appearance and the heavily secured event as signs of growing pressure inside Russia.
Appearance scrutiny
According to the Daily Express, former Russian oligarch and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky described Putin as a “deeply frightened, aging dictator”.
The remarks came after Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, which featured reduced military hardware and heightened security measures.
Ukrainian commentator Anton Gerashchenko also shared an image of Putin during the event, writing: “The face of a ‘victor’ and the leader of a ‘superpower’. It seems sanctions have even reached Putin’s Botox”.
Observers cited by the outlet pointed to Putin’s swollen cheeks and uneven facial appearance, fuelling online speculation about the Russian president’s health.
Growing pressure
Monitoring group Crimean Wind suggested that prolonged stress and isolation may have visibly affected the authoritarian leader.
“History shows that many dictators visibly aged before the fall of their regime or their death. Scientists link this to chronic stress, paranoid fear of losing power, and isolation, which accelerate the body’s aging,” the group said.
Kremlin critic Leonid Nevzlin argued that this year’s scaled-back parade reflected what he described as Putin’s weakening grip on power.
He claimed the Russian political system had become increasingly centred around the health and condition of one individual rather than broader institutions.
Security fears
Nevzlin also pointed to the unusually heavy security presence surrounding Putin during the parade.
According to the Daily Express, he said security personnel had never previously remained so physically close to the Russian leader during public appearances.
“Either Putin himself is afraid, or he’s being wound up and intimidated this way — which causes him to become fearful and paranoid,” Nevzlin said.
Sources: Daily Express, Crimean Wind
