Vladimir Putin at centre of barmy ‘time traveller’ theory as century-old photos fuel viral conspiracy
Vladimir Putin is once again the subject of viral conspiracy theories because he managed to survive two world wars.
These absurd beliefs emerged after old photographs from the early 20th century showing men resembling the Russian despot resurfaced online; but there is no evidence to support claims that these images depict him or that he has somehow been alive for over a century.
The 73-year-old Russian president has dominated the country’s political landscape for more than a quarter of a century after first coming to power in 1999.
His full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 continues to define his presidency, with the war causing hundreds of thousands of military casualties and thousands of civilian deaths, according to international estimates.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have been repeatedly disrupted as Russia remains the target of sweeping Western sanctions. In this context, misleading and fantastic claims about Putin are frequently circulated on social media; these include long-standing theories that he is immortal or travels through time.
The allegations now center on two black-and-white photographs, one dated 1920 and the other from 1941, of men in military uniforms whose facial features some Internet users claim resemble Putin’s.
Disclose.tv reported: “Photos from 1920 and 1941 are circulating on social networks, and some people claim that these are photos of Putin.
“In fact, those who support the thesis that Putin is powerful and immortal have launched a narrative that their president is a mythical creature who has been living on our planet for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.”
The photos first gained widespread attention online in 2015 and have resurfaced periodically since then, although there is no credible evidence linking either photo to Putin.
The similarities highlighted by conspiracy theorists focus on facial features such as narrow nose, thin lips and general face shape.
Historians and fact-checkers have repeatedly noted that apparent similarities between unrelated individuals are common and do not constitute evidence that the same person appears in photographs taken decades apart.
Theories have also spawned claims that Putin has somehow witnessed both world wars and possesses time travel technology.
None of these claims are supported by evidence.
Putin remains one of the most well-known political figures of the 21st century.
Before becoming acting president in 1999, he served as director of Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB, which replaced the Soviet-era KGB.
He later won several presidential elections that international observers, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, repeatedly criticized as lacking genuine democratic competition; Those who criticized his government faced imprisonment, exile, or other forms of oppression.
Since ordering Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin has continued to dominate international headlines through ongoing conflicts, tensions with NATO countries, and ongoing geopolitical disputes with Western governments.
Despite the persistence of online speculation, there is no evidence that the men shown in the photos from 1920 or 1941 are Vladimir Putin, and claims that he is immortal or has the ability to travel through time remain internet conspiracy theories unsupported by any verified facts.
