An alleged doppelgänger of Vladimir Putin has been named as a 'fourth-rate carpenter' from Belarus who reportedly survived an assassination attempt.
Yevgeny Vasilyevich was today identified as the Russian president's “main double” as he claimed he was poisoned with “poisonous substances.”
He “developed a rash on the skin of the upper and lower limbs and on the neck, which doctors initially mistook for an allergy,” General SVR claimed today in the elusive Russian Telegram without providing evidence.
The channel, known for its bold claims about Putin's health, is among several sources who claim that one or more Putin lookalikes are regularly used as body doubles for the 71-year-old, a theory supported by Ukrainian military intelligence.
Vasilyevich is also said to be a 'fourth-rate carpenter' from Belarus, according to a Russian political analyst.
Dr. Valery Solovey, formerly a professor at a Moscow training academy for spies and diplomats, said Vasilievich even intervened to deliver Putin's New Year's Eve tirade.
Dr. Solovey, seen by critics as a conspiracy theorist, scandalously claimed in October 2023 that the Russian president had died and been replaced by body doubles, ultimately controlled by the former spymaster of Russia's FSB security service.
Putin addressing the nation (right), fueling rumors that he had been replaced by a lookalike
Russian political analyst Dr. Valery Solovey speaks about Vladimir Putin's alleged use of doubles
Doctors allegedly provided the alleged double Vasilyevich with medication, but “when the test results became known, they urgently contacted” the head of the Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, the General SVR channel claimed.
'The lifespan of the backup was not at risk; probably the dose was too small.
“Now they are trying to figure out how the poisonous substance entered the body of the doppelgänger.”
The security services of the FSB and the FSO are said to have launched an investigation into a suspected assassination bid, the channel claimed.
General SVR claims to have inside knowledge of the Kremlin, but provides no hard evidence and is seen by many as a source of conspiracy theories.
The anonymous account appeared in 2020, ahead of the invasion of Ukraine, and claimed to be operated by former and current members of Russian official bodies.
Since then, the country has made a number of baseless and unproven claims about Putin and his government.
Famously, the report subsequently prompted a rare public clarification from the Kremlin to claim Last year, Putin fell down a flight of stairs and soiled himself.
“This is completely untrue,” a spokesperson told Newsweek.
General SVR too claimed Last year, Putin reportedly handed over power to a former FSB chief to undergo surgery for cancer.
The Kremlin later refused Putin had died of cancer and called the claims about his health “absurd.”
Dr. Valery Solovey, labeled a “foreign agent” by Russia, has also made several bold claims about Putin's well-being.
The former professor suggested in his latest video that the carpenter lookalike had been trained by Moscow's secret services to play the role of Putin.
“Those of you, dear friends, who saw the so-called New Year's greeting from the so-called Russian president probably noticed that it was very short,” said Dr. Solovey.
'Not only was it very short, it was one of the shortest in Putin's history (New Year's messages)… Why was it one of the shortest?
'The answer is clear. So you don't look and listen. Not to look at the appearance and not to listen to the voice of the man. This man, Putin's double, is called Yevgeny Vasilyevich.
'He's from Belarus. Originally from Belarus. Yevgeny Vasilyevich. Yes, a fourth-rate carpenter. That is the truth.'
Dr. Solovej did not mention the alleged impostor's surname, but referred to him by his assumed first name Yevgeny and his patronymic, or middle name, Vasilyevich.
A doppelgänger named “Vasilyevich” has been referenced in jokes since last year, after top Russian churchman Patriarch Kirill, head of the Orthodox Church, blundered when addressing Putin at a meeting as “Your Excellency, Most Respected Vladimir Vasilyevich.” before correcting himself. to correctly call the president Vladimir Vladimirovich.
At the time, in July, Dr. Solovey said Kirill was aware of Putin and his body.
He told Zhivoy Gvozd on YouTube today that Vasilyevich “is the patronymic of the double” and that Kirill “knows the patronymic of the double.”
Ukraine's military intelligence also claimed this week that the Kremlin has deployed at least three Putin stand-ins.
Ukrainian spokesman for HUR's military intelligence service, Andriy Yusov, said this week: 'This information (about Vladimir Putin using body doubles) is confirmed by many sources…
'(It) is no longer some kind of news or something that needs to be proven in the world…
“The technology of doubles has been used before and is being used now, especially by Vladimir Putin and his entourage, people who influence the situation in the Kremlin.”
Dr. Solovey worked at the prestigious Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in Moscow
Memes and jokes continue to examine Putin's past and present performances for differences
Some say body doubles are used because Putin is seriously ill or is hiding in a bunker due to paranoia about his security, or deployed by his entourage because the dictator is dead.
Others have suggested that the New Year's broadcast was an AI image of Putin.
According to observers, the Russian president's neck appeared out of sync with his body, as if his head was crossed for the televised speech.
The professor had long claimed that the real Putin was seriously ill with cancer, and told his followers in October that Putin had died to be replaced by look-alikes.
He has said that the ring of lookalikes is organized by the shadowy Nikolai Patrushev, 72, former chief spymaster at the FSB.