Health security

 

Does Putin have Parkinson’s? Western media goes into frenzy over claims from notorious Russian conspiracy theorist

Vladimir Putin is poised to step back from the Russian presidency after being diagnosed with a neurological condition. That’s according to a Moscow commentator who once claimed membership of a shadowy, secret intelligence group.

The explosive suggestion, made by political scientist Valery Solovey, was covered widely in US and UK news on Friday. Outlets including the Sun, the Daily Mail and the New York Post ran the story that Putin has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The tabloids, among the most read in the West, suggested that the president would stand down next year.

Solovey has become a regular commentator in the anglophone media, particularly after stepping down from his role as Chair of the Public Relations Department at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). He argued he had been pushed out, apparently “for political reasons.” The gabby conspiracy theorist is beloved of British and American hacks in Moscow as he will pretty much say anything to suit their agendas.