Russian President Vladimir Putin has fled to his ‘secret palace’ amid anti-draft protests in Russian cities, according to the DailyMail.
The outlet reported that Putin appears to have vanished on holiday to his ‘most secret official dacha’ in the forests of the Valdai Hills, halfway between Moscow and St Petersburg.
The palatial complex boasts a three-storey spa building complete with a personal beauty parlor, float pool, cryo chamber for extreme cold therapy and a mud bath. The estate also has a stable, golf course, mini-golf course, VIP restaurant with a cinema, bowling alley, billiard room and a mini-casino.
The existence of the property was revealed last year by the Anti-Corruption Foundation founded by jailed Russian activist Alexei Navalny.
Independent Russian journalist, Farida Rusamova, said sources familiar with Putin’s schedule confirmed that the Russian President traveled to his lakeside estate on Wednesday. She said Russian officials have been releasing pre-recorded videos to make it appear as if Putin is busy at work, when in reality he’s “resting” in his mansion.
According to Rusamova, Putin plans to stay at the complex until at least Thursday.
Putin’s vacation comes as hundreds of Russians are being detained at anti-war protests in several Russian cities after Putin announced that 300,000 reservists would be ordered to fight on the front lines in the war in Ukraine.
More than 700 people were detained in protests across 32 Russian cities on Saturday.
