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Putin in Alaska with Trump: extreme security and rumours about his health

The Russian president appears to be in good shape, but rumours persist and extraordinary measures are being taken to protect his health

During the summit in Alaska with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin appeared to be in good shape, partially refuting the ongoing speculation about his health. The meeting, monitored by extremely strict security measures, also attracted attention for an unusual detail: according to The Express US, bodyguards carried a special “faeces container” to take every biological trace of the president back to Russia, preventing external analysis of his health.

Extreme security measures

The precaution, in use since 2017, is reportedly managed by the Federal Protection Service and adopted during all of Putin’s international trips. Testimonies from investigative journalists and Russian reporters confirm the use of personal portable toilets and sealed containers on several occasions, including the 2018 visit to Vienna.

Speculation and theories about his health

Despite the Russian leader being 72 years old, numerous videos have shown possible leg tremors, involuntary movements and swelling in his face, fuelling rumours of Parkinson’s disease, cancer or heart problems, which have never been confirmed by the Kremlin. Some Western analysts and intelligence agencies, including the CIA and MI6, have repeatedly denied the presence of serious illnesses.

Adding to these rumours are conspiracy theories about trained doubles replacing Putin in public. Studies by Japan’s National Institute for Defence Studies, based on facial and voice recognition, suggest at least two doubles, although there is no official confirmation.

The summit in Alaska

During his meeting with Trump, 79, Putin appeared to be moving independently and on a par with his American counterpart. However, the obsessive management of his image and the extraordinary measures reflect a clear strategy by the Kremlin: to protect the myth of the strong leader and maintain control over public perception, while rumours about his health continue to circulate.

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