Russian President Vladimir Putin commences his India visit today. The first time since its Ukraine invasion, the diplomatic meet will aim to facilitate bilateral talks between India and Russia. It also comes after the tedious balancing act India aims to manoeuvre amid a tariff row with the US. During these uncertain times in global politics, there is scrutiny on Putin’s visit to India, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Former KGB spy Putin’s security detail has been closely watched by the Federal Protective Services (FSO). From discreet bathroom protocols to controlled food supplies, Putin is under constant surveillance. These extreme measures also point towards the numerous speculations surrounding the Russian president’s health – from cancer to Parkinson’s – it has left the world concerned. Amid these claims, there is the mysterious case of the ‘poop suitcase,’ which he is rumoured to carry on his international visits.
What is a poop suitcase?
The term ‘poop suitcase’ comes after Vladimir Putin visited the Alaska Summit earlier this year. His security officials were reportedly spotted carrying a dedicated suitcase to collect his faecal waste.
As per reports, the waste is shipped back to Russia to avoid any foreign bodies testing his excreta for underlying medical conditions. The Internet traces back this common feature to his international trips to France, Vienna, and Saudi Arabia. It reportedly became one of the key highlights of Putin’s security detail.
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How a ‘poopcase’ works
Human stool has long been considered an intelligence asset, the analysis of which can potentially harm one’s enemy. In 1949, Joseph Stalin is said to have ordered a sample of Mao Zedong’s stool, while during the Cold War, British intelligence claimed to have analysed the toilet paper of Soviet soldiers.
This practice, first detailed in the French magazine Paris Match by journalists Regis Gente and Mikhail Rubin. The Independent later reported that in 2022, it was intended to prevent foreign intelligence services from analysing his stool for information about his health.
The reports claim that his security personnel collect his waste, pack it in sealed bags, and store it. It is not disposed of in the visiting country, but brought back to Moscow in a special briefcase.
Former BBC journalist Farida Rustamova also confirmed hearing of such incidents, saying Putin sometimes used ‘a private bathroom’ or even a portable toilet while travelling abroad, reported News 18. Several reports even speculate the presence of body doubles and food items, brought in specifically from Moscow, for special appearances.
