Sergei Zhirnov claims to have served alongside the Russian tyrant in the KGB intelligence service of the former Soviet Union, which is now known as the FSB.
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Zhirnov said he had believed until now that claims of Putin using doppelgangers were “conspiracy theories”.
But he has now changed his mind, citing a speech made by a “skinny” and coughing Putin on February 21 and contrasting it with an appearance at a pro-war concert next day in Moscow as evidence.
Footage highlights him waving his hands around and repeatedly touching his nose, not traits especially common with Putin.
Zhirnov told Ukrainian TV that “a totally different Putin pops up” with “a wider face as if he bloated in 24 hours”.
“He has a totally different shape of eye orbits, a totally different head, absolutely different wrinkles – a different voice.”
Far from shunning people, perhaps to avoid Covid, he was “almost kissing and hugging everyone”.
His allegation comes as a video shows an unusually exuberant Russian president at a helicopter plant in Siberia.
Zhirnov is now exiled in France and was a former classmate of Putin at KGB Red Flag Institute, a spy training centre.
The claim Putin uses a body double has also been made by the head of Ukrainian military intelligence.
Major General Kyrylo Budanov claimed the body doubles are used to hide Putin’s loss of control in the Kremlin.
He claimed Ukrainian secret services detected Putin body doubles standing in for him on a number of “special occasions” in the past, but this had become “usual practice” now
“We know specifically about three people that keep appearing, but how many there are, we don’t know,” Budanov said.
“They all had plastic surgery to look alike.”
The spy chief alleged all the doubles had surgery but said the one thing that gives them away is their height.
“It’s visible in videos and pictures. Also gesturing, body language and earlobes, since they are unique for every person.”
The claim that Putin uses body doubles is also regularly made by the General SVR Telegram and YouTube channel, which claims to be run by a Kremlin insider.
Most experts dismiss such claims as absurd and far-fetched, though several noticed Putin’s unusually buoyant mood in Siberia, compared to recent public appearances in Moscow.
One claim was that Putin had had an extra dose of medicine.
It has been alleged body doubles were used by former Soviet leaders Josef Stalin and Leonid Brezhnev.
Putin three years ago admitted that officials had considered using doubles, but he claimed the idea was rejected.
“I discarded the idea of any doubles,” he said.
He admitted the idea came up in the early 2000s when Russia was hit by terrorist attacks.
It was suggested a lookalike should take his place at events where the head of state might be at risk, he said.
“This was during the toughest time of our war against terrorism.”
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