Putin sent his body double to India? The small detail that sparked the rumors again

A conspiracy theory claims that Vladimir Putin sent a body double in his place for a visit to India, after a video showed the man holding a railing while descending from the plane. Users argue that the real Putin would never do that, and that his gait does not match. The article reviews the claims and presents skepticism toward them, noting that this is not the first time such rumors have surfaced.

A new conspiracy theory claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a body double in his place for a visit to India, ahead of the BRICS summit. The claim was based on a video showing the man holding a railing while descending from the plane at the Palam Air Force Base in New Delhi. Online users argued that the real Putin never holds a railing, and that his gait does not match. Some even claimed that the fact that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not come to greet him at the airport proves that the Indians knew it was a double. The article reviews the claims and presents skepticism toward them, noting that there is no solid evidence for the allegations. Other users mocked the theory and asked why the Kremlin wouldn't teach the double how Putin usually descends stairs. The article notes that this is not the first time such rumors have surfaced, and that they have accompanied Putin for years, especially since the invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied the use of body doubles.