Nawaz Hassan

The Enigma of Putin’s “Second Body”

Have you ever heard the theory that powerful leaders use doubles to protect themselves? It’s one of those ideas that sounds straight out of a spy novel, but when it comes to Vladimir Putin, Russia’s long-time leader, the rumor has circulated for years with surprising persistence. Known popularly as the claim that Putin has a “second body” or political double, this idea mixes conspiracy, state secrecy, and the mysterious aura that has surrounded him for decades. But is there any truth to it, or is it simply another myth that keeps the intrigue around him alive?