Putin ‘Pal Laich‘ bodydouble rumours reach fever pitch after official slip-up

The Russian leader is facing more body double rumours after a minister referred to him by a different name. Dmitry Patrushev, the deputy prime minister for agriculture, appeared to call Vladimir Putin ‘Pal Laich’ in a video by the Kremlin.

Theorists believe that ‘Pal Laich’ is a nickname for Pavel Nicolaevich, an alleged body double of the president. The official transcript claims Patrushev said “Vladimir Vladimirovich”, Putin’s correct first name and patronymic. Even pro-Kremlin newspaper Kommersant admitted the comment had caused confusion. It wrote: “It seems that no one can explain what it was. Maybe he got overstressed. Maybe he wanted to say something about something, but he caught himself.”

It has been believed for many years that Putin uses body doubles to ensure his safety. The leader claimed in 2020 that a plan to do this was brought to him in the early 2000s, but he rejected it.

But in 2022, the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, alleged that Putin regularly used the doubles. He said: “There are at least three people [body doubles] who periodically appear.”

In 2023, Kremlin spin doctor Dmitry Peskov denied rumours of body doubles, despite .Budanov claiming Putin’s height and the shape of his ears have changed over the years.

“You have probably heard that he has very many doubles who work instead of him while he sits in a bunker. Yet another lie,” he said.

Peskov added: “His energy can only be envied. His health can, God willing, only be wished for. Of course, he doesn’t sit in any bunkers.”

Some theorists even believe that the real Putin has died, or is in a bunker and is running Russia through a series of lookalikes.