Russian President Vladimir Putin regularly sees an oncologist and bathes in the blood of severed deer antlers to boost his health, a report from Russian investigative news outlet Proekt said.
According to the report, Putin, 69, has grown more concerned about his health in recent years and takes trips to the resort city of Sochi accompanied by doctors.
The outlet determined which doctors spent time with Putin at his residence in Sochi by examining contracts between the hospital and hotels where its staff members stayed.
The report claims the average number of doctors in Putin’s entourage increased to nine in 2019 up from five just two years before. Among them oncologist Yevgeny Selivanov who specializes in thyroid cancer. Selivanov reportedly visited Putin at his residence 35 times and spent a total of 166 days with him between 2016 and 2020.
Only two other doctors, otolaryngologists Igor Esakov and Alexei Shcheglov visited Putin more. Shcheglov reportedly spent 282 days with Putin in total between 2016 and 2020 during his 59 visits.
An otolaryngologist usually diagnose thyroid diseases first then a surgeon or oncologist begins treatment.
The investigation finds that the dates that doctors stayed at hotels in Sochi coincided with Putin’s official visits to the city or periods where he mysteriously disappeared from the public eye.
The outlet cited a source as saying that in medical circles Putin is believed to have undergone a complicated procedure related to thyroid disease when he disappeared last September.
Putin is also beginning to show an interest in unconventional medicine. According to the report the Russian president is starting to bathe in the blood of antlers cut from deers in the spring when the horns are “soft and full of blood.”
Animal rights activist have compared the practice to pulling out the fingernails of humans.
Putin took up this unconventional therapy at the recommendation of Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu. It is believed that these so-called ‘antler baths’ improves the cardiovascular system, rejuvenates the skin and boost “male potency”.
The report comes as Putin went into strict isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and photos of his meetings with world leaders and members of his own government shows the Russian president sitting at one end of a very long table, Insider noted.
The Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has reportedly denied any suggestions that Putin has cancer, saying Putin is in “excellent” health.
