Kathrine Frich
Being the leader of a heavily sanctioned superpower comes with major risks.
A paranoid ruler might take drastic steps to stay safe.
Right now, one legendary rumour about the Kremlin boss is swirling around the internet again.
A viral mistake
The speculation kicked into high gear this week. According to Ladbible the media outlet Nexta published footage of a meeting between Vladimir Putin and a Russian official.
Things took a bizarre turn. The official appeared to address the 73-year-old by the wrong name entirely, seemingly calling him Pal Laich.
Nexta pointed out this might be short for Pavel Nikolaevich. Almost immediately in the clip, the Russian president cuts in and rushes the conversation forward.
Conspiracy theorists viewed this as a clear cover-up. More grounded voices suggested the official was just horribly nervous, or perhaps talking to someone off camera.
Looking for clues
This concept is not new. People claim the former KGB agent uses a stand-in whenever he feels threatened or unwell.
Online sleuths think they can spot the imposter. They constantly compare chin shapes, earlobes, and forehead wrinkles across different public appearances.
Another major wave of suspicion hit last year. During a meeting in Alaska with US President Donald Trump, viewers noticed Putin shaking his legs in an unusual way.
Critics claimed his strange body language was absolute proof that a stand-in had taken the trip.
The usual walk
Professional observers often reject these theories. Body language expert Inbaal Honigman recently reviewed footage of the Russian leader to finally settle the debate.
She told the Star that his specific walking style proves his identity. Honigman noted that he walks with a very distinct stride linked to his old intelligence background.
“His left arm swings naturally, while his right arm is still and stiff, held strongly in place by his side,” she told the Star.
She added that this deeply ingrained habit is extremely hard to fake. “This is an identifiable mark of the former KGB agent, which allows an officer to be ready to pull a firearm out of its holster at a moment’s notice.”
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Sources: Nexta, the Star
