'Immortal' Vladimir Putin and the other conspiracies that keep the Russian President in power

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

The cult of personality surrounding Vladimir Putin, cultivated through shirtless photo opportunities and bolstered by foreign wars, keeps going from strength to strength.

And if you’ll believe the Russian President just “found” an ancient amphora after descending to the sea bed in a Bond-style miniature submarine, you may also buy into new conspiracy theories that Mr Putin is in fact immortal.

A recent “truth revealed” by the Disclose.tv website puts images of the surprisingly youthful-looking 63-year-old alongside photos of other men purporting to be from 1920 and 1941 respectively – inviting the reader to compare the three.

The concept that Mr Putin is immortal “and the internet has proof” has itself been around for a while. For most, it is a bit of fun.

But despite his 15 years in the presidential limelight and being named the most powerful man in the world, seasoned Moscow observers still feel they don’t know who Vladimir Putin really is.

For some, the “mythism” surrounding the Russian President is actively propagated by public figures in the Moscow – the conspiracy behind the conspiracy, as it were.

And in a more sobering assessment of recent developments, the FT’s Courtney Weaver thinks Mr Putin offers a glimpse into the future for the US – if it elects Donald Trump as president.