The Kremlin: There is only one President Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to servicemen on June 27 (Photo: Reuters).

"We only have one President Putin," Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov said on November 4, responding to speculation that Putin has a body double.

Peskov joked that the "experts" on social media are wondering how many copies of Putin he has and what those copies they're seeing each day.

"Today, Mr. Putin led a delegation of leaders and public figures in laying wreaths at the Minin and Pozharsky Monument… Is this the third or fourth person to replace Mr. Putin? I don't know either," the Kremlin spokesperson joked.

Last month, Western media, citing unverified sources, reported that Putin was experiencing serious health problems and had to use body doubles at public appearances, including foreign trips.

In response to the information, Peskov said at the time: "The President is fine. Clearly, it's another fake news story. This is a ridiculous information hoax that a number of media outlets have been persistently talking about. It evokes nothing but laughter."

Putin has been plagued by rumors regarding his health and the use of body doubles. In a 2020 interview, he denied these speculations, stating that he had been offered the use of a body double for security reasons but had declined.

Peskov said that the Russian leader has "excellent physical fitness for work" and can work non-stop for days on end. The Kremlin spokesman added that he had experienced this firsthand while working directly under President Putin's leadership.

According to Peskov, much of the President's schedule is not made public, with many appointments lasting until 1 or 2 a.m. This schedule includes a large number of meetings, discussions, phone calls, and document readings.

Putin, 71, is a big sports fan, especially of martial arts. He still maintains a packed schedule of meetings and public appearances, many of which are televised.

Putin has led Russia since 1999. He served as president from 2000 to 2008 and from 2012 to the present. He also served as Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 under President Boris Yeltsin, and continued in this position from 2008 to 2012.

In 2021, the Kremlin leader signed into law a new bill allowing him to run for two more terms.

Putin is currently in his fourth presidential term, which runs until 2024. The new law paves the way for him to potentially hold power for two more six-year terms if he decides to run for re-election and wins.

He is expected to announce his re-election campaign soon. In September, Peskov said that if Putin decided to run again, no one would be able to truly compete with him.

Recent opinion polls show that Putin remains the most popular politician in Russia. According to a Levada survey, President Putin's approval rating is currently 80%.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/dien-kremlin-chi-co-mot-tong-thong-putin-20231105085817348.htm