Russian President Vladimir Putin's bodyguards allegedly carried a so-called "poop suitcase" during his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, sparking global curiosity and speculation. According to The Express US, this unusual practice forms part of Moscow's sophisticated security practice designed to ensure that no foreign intelligence agency gains access to sensitive medical data about the Russian leader.

Citing investigative journalists Regis Gente and Mikhail Rubin in the French publication Paris Match, The Express US reported that members of the Russian President's Federal Protection Service (FPS) collect his human waste, including his faeces, store it in special bags, and carry it in dedicated briefcases. They not only provide security to Putin but also collect his faecal waste and urine, pack it in safe containers, and carry it back to Moscow in a custom-built suitcase. The tradition has been ongoing for years, with evidence traced as far back as Putin's trips to France in 2017 and Saudi Arabia in 2019. A viral video, widely circulated online and cited by a BBC journalist, appears to show members of Putin’s security detail guarding a washroom while an officer emerges carrying a locked case. This footage reignited debate about the extreme measures Russia employs to protect its president’s personal health data.

Why Does Putin Hide His Poop?

The alleged motive is rooted in fears of “medical espionage.” Intelligence agencies worldwide have long been known to study biological samples to assess the health of foreign leaders. By protecting Putin's excrement, the Kremlin makes sure that no enemy can learn about his possible diseases, cures, or chronic health issues. Rebekah Koffler, a retired US Defence Intelligence Agency officer and author of Putin's Playbook, explained to Fox News Digital that the Russian president's demand for secrecy is because he wants to project an image of resilience and permanence. "Putin doesn't want any information regarding his health to fall into the hands of foreign intelligence,". He wishes to present the impression that he will be governing Russia for eternity in an attempt to discourage any unrest related to a shift in power," Koffler explained.

Putin, aged 72, has been the target of official speculation regarding his health for a long time. His attendants have pointed out moments when he looked agitated or tensed during state sessions, and rumors of cancer, Parkinson's disease, and other ailments have been peddled by Western media and also by Russian outlets. In 2022, even the Kremlin dismissed reports on an unnamed Telegram channel that the president had been involved in a serious accident. Previously, images of Putin wrapping his legs in a blanket while attending Russia's Victory Day parade also brought on speculation of declining health. There has never been any concrete evidence, though, and the Russian government has always rejected such accusations as false information.

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A Suitcase Of Secrecy

As reported by Paris Match, the "poop suitcase" is carried by one specialist officer of the Federal Guard Service. It is carried carefully along with the president on his foreign trips and is sent back to Moscow the moment he returns from a trip. In some instances, Putin uses a portable toilet as well to leave no biological residues behind. Such habits highlight the deep-seated culture of secrecy in the Kremlin. For Putin, experts explain, protecting his health secrets is as much about staying alive politically in a system where projecting strength is crucial.

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While the sight of bodyguards toting a bag of the president's poop can look uncanny to those outside, it points to the extreme measures Russia takes to protect its leader from exposure. In a world where spy agencies can glean medical information from the tiniest spit or smear of saliva, the Kremlin views even a toilet flush containing waste as a national security threat.