On Death’s Door? Putin’s ‘Imminent Death’ Predicted as Successors Battle for Power: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s death is "imminent," but body doubles will take his place and rule the country, according to a Telegram channel.

General SVR on a controversial Telegram channel has alleged that Putin is not only in poor health but also facing a terminal illness, the Daily Star reported.

In its most recent purported health update concerning the Russian leader, General SVR made the claim doppelgängers are currently appearing in public in place of Putin.

According to the Daily Star, Russian political analyst Dr. Valery Solovey, who supports the General SVR theory, went on camera and stated Putin’s 71st birthday on Oct. 7 would be the last he celebrates.

However, General SVR on Telegram posits Putin's death will be kept secret from the world.

Body doubles for Putin have been trained by his secret service and will stand in for the “ailing” leader at times, the Daily Star reported, and the president's aides are now battling over who should control these body doubles.

The main contender for seizing power, according to the channel, is 72-year-old hardline war-monger Nikolai Patrushev, Putin’s top security aide and former FSB chief.

General SVR on Telegram claimed insiders are fighting amongst themselves as they “attempt to create a consensus around the idea of the continuation of the existence of the Putin regime after Putin,” the Daily Star reported.

The channel noted those involved in the purported plan seem “ready to rally around a double who can be controlled,” but the issue is “who will control the double.”

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According to protocols, if Putin dies while in office, he is to be replaced for three months by the prime minister — currently 57-year-old Mikhail Mishustin — who would then become acting president.

The channel claims Putin hasn’t left any succession instructions and instead is “preferring to withdraw into himself, and perhaps deciding that the chaos after him is the best legacy.”

However, they channel adds that “the end will come very soon” and “power in Russia in a crisis situation traditionally goes to the one who turns out to be the most daring.”