Paranoid Putin stages conversation with 'tourist' because he's too worried to meet actual strangers

By WILL STEWART and TARYN KAUR PEDLER, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 18:25, 12 May 2026 | Updated: 18:28, 12 May 2026 A paranoid Vladimir Putin staged a conversation with a 'tourist' as it is believed he is too worried about his safety to meet actual strangers.    In footage, he was seen greeting the apparent tourist from Sochi before making small talk with the 'random passerby' about the city. But instead, the exchange only highlighted the current obsession with the despot's security, because it was revealed that this was no ordinary holidaymaker. In fact, this 'tourist,' Alexander Bazarny, worked in a company managing lavish villas in Sochi linked to Putin and the mother of his lover, gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 42, revealed an independent news outlet Agentsvo. The company has links to the Russian intelligence services.   Putin's former schoolteacher also appeared to question whether she was meeting the Russian dictator or his double. In a carefully stage-managed meeting, the Kremlin president arrived at Vera Gurevich's Moscow hotel to take her out for dinner. Unusually, Putin, 73, drove the Aurus off-road himself, apparently to show he is still at Russia's wheel after rumours of a coup plot and security paranoia. In footage, he was seen greeting the apparent tourist from Sochi before making small talk with the 'random passerby' about the city Putin is known to use body doubles amid security fears Putin's former schoolteacher also appeared to question whether she was meeting the Russian dictator or his double As they met, his former class teacher, aged 92, peered uncertainly at his face and asked him doubtfully: 'Is that you?' Putin replied: 'Yes, it's me. It's me.' He is known to use body doubles amid security fears. Finally satisfied this was Putin, whom she had last met two years ago, she repeatedly kissed him as he handed her a large bouquet. Putin's retired teacher - who also taught him German - was bundled into the back of the Aurus and driven away for dinner in the Kremlin, escorted by security vehicles. Gurevich has previously revealed how, aged 16, he slaughtered a duck on a school trip before it was cooked for dinner. She said: 'He pulled a blanket over himself, covering his head completely.  He said: 'Bring in the unfortunate one, lay her head so that, without seeing her, I can sever her head with a single blow.' The retired teacher also revealed that as a schoolboy, Putin 'wasn't particularly interested in girls at all.' She said: 'Honestly, I could never imagine that it'd be Vladimir Putin who'd become president, head of our great state. 'He's a talented man, but I've always thought he'd make a lawyer.' It comes after Putin oversaw Russia's annual Victory Day parade on Red Square on May 9 amid extraordinary security fears and a mocking taunt from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Kremlin staged the lavish military spectacle commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War under the shadow of possible Ukrainian drone attacks, with officials forced to strip back the traditional display of military hardware. For the first time in nearly two decades, tanks, missile launchers and other heavy weapons were absent from the parade, aside from a ceremonial flyover of combat jets. North Korean troops were also shown marching across the cobblestones of Red Square to celebrate the military partnership between the two countries. Russian officials blamed the sudden change in format on the 'current operational situation', while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted authorities had introduced 'additional security measures' ahead of the event. Putin, who has ruled Russia for more than a quarter of a century, has long used Victory Day, the country's most important secular holiday, to project military strength and rally support for the war in Ukraine. But this year's celebrations appeared overshadowed by fears Kyiv could attempt to embarrass the Kremlin with a strike on Moscow during the high-profile event. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.