As President Vladimir Putin prepares for his meeting in Alaska, his security protocol includes a peculiar element: the collection and transportation of his bodily waste. Along with the usual security measures, Putin’s team will be carrying a special, bulletproof suitcase known as the ‘poo suitcase.’ This suitcase is designed to collect Putin’s urine and feces, ensuring these samples are transported back to Moscow.
This practice was first reported in 2017, during Putin’s visit to France, and was later observed during a trip to Saudi Arabia in 2019. The primary reason cited is to protect the Russian President’s health information. By controlling access to his waste samples, Putin aims to prevent any details about his physical condition from being disclosed to his opponents. With persistent rumors about his health, including speculations of cancer, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease, this measure seeks to maintain secrecy.
Furthermore, photos such as the one from the Victory Day parade, where Putin was seen with a blanket covering his legs, have added to the speculation regarding the state of Putin’s health. At the 2019 Ukraine summit in Paris, Putin was seen escorted by six bodyguards when he went to the bathroom; one bodyguard entered the bathroom immediately after him, suggesting a similar practice.