An equally cruel tyrant could take control of Russia should Vladimir Putin become seriously ill, a defence analyst has warned.
Michael Clarke, a Professor of Defence Studies at King's College London, said former KGB spook Nikolai Patrushev would succeed his longtime pal Putin if the rumours of the tyrant being riddled with cancer or suffering with Parkinson's are true.
He said: "If he is ill, or becomes ill, that would be one way out for Russia.
