Putin’s ‘Poop Protocol’: Strange Security Claims Resurface During US Visit

Bizarre, unverified theories about Russian President Vladimir Putin have circulated for years — and one of the strangest resurfaced during his recent trip to Alaska for talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The summit, held on Saturday, did not produce an immediate ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but online chatter quickly turned to claims about Putin’s bodyguards allegedly collecting his bodily waste.

Origins of the claim
The unusual rumor was first reported in 2022 by French magazine Paris Match, in an investigation by journalists Regis Gente and Mikhail Rubin. The report alleged that Putin’s security detail ensures his excrement and urine are gathered in secure pouches and transported back to Moscow, supposedly to prevent foreign intelligence agencies from analyzing them for insights into his health.

The piece cited instances dating back to at least 2017, including visits to France and Saudi Arabia, where members of Russia’s Federal Protective Service (FSO) allegedly carried out the practice. The report also suggested “absolute secrecy and intense pressure” was placed on staff to keep the measures hidden.

Other accounts
Ex-BBC journalist Farida Rustamova has also reported similar measures, including claims that Putin sometimes travels with a portable toilet to maintain control over his waste. According to sources, the practice dates back to the early years of his presidency.

Why it matters
Speculation about Putin’s health has persisted for years, with unconfirmed rumors ranging from cancer to Parkinson’s disease. Supporters of the theory argue that his bodily waste could reveal sensitive medical data — hence the alleged extreme precautions.

Still, these claims remain unverified, and Kremlin officials have never addressed them publicly.