Vladimir Putin could be out of power and in a sanatorium by 2023 while Western sanctions could also cause Russia to 'break apart' next year, a former British MI6 chief has said. Sir Richard Dearlove, the head of the British Secret Intelligence service between 1999 and 2004, was speaking as rumours about the Russia president's health continue to spread.
There is speculation that Putin, 69, has been suffering from cancer. He launched an invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine back in February, prompting financial sanctions from Western governments.
Sir Richard, who co-hosts the One Decision podcast, said of Putin: “I’m really going to stick my neck out. I think he’ll be gone by 2023. Probably into the sanatorium, from which he will not emerge as the leader of Russia.
He continued, the Indepedent reported : “That’s a way to sort of move things on without a coup,". He also suggested that Nikolai Patrushev, who is the secretary of the security council, may take over from Putin.
Sir Richard said: “If my thesis were fulfilled and Putin did disappear into a sanatorium, I think he’s the likely stand-in.
"And of course the stand-in this scenario probably becomes permanent. I mean, you know there is no succession in the Russian leadership. They certainly don’t succession plan.”
As well as his comments about Putin's health, Sir Richard said the sanctions on Russia could see the country 'break apart' over the next 12 to 18 months, the Independent reported.
Last week, another ex top British spy said Putin's declining health is causing chaos in the Kremlin. Former government intelligence professional Christopher Steele believes the mysterious illness that has plagued Putin has left Moscow having to deal with the president's health and the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to LBC's Eddie Mair, Mr Steele, who ran the Russia desk at MI6 in London between 2006 and 2009, claimed Putin needed round-the-clock medical care. But the exact details of his conditions were not known, even to high-ranking colleagues
He said: "He's constantly accompanied around the place by a team of doctors. Meetings of the security council that are shown to supposedly last for a whole hour are actually broken up into several sections, he goes out and receives some kind of medical treatment between those sections.
"So, clearly, he is seriously ill - how terminal or incurable it is is not clear, we can't be entirely sure.
"But it's certainly having a very serious impact on the governance of Russia at the moment."
