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Russians have posted memes to mock Vladimir Putin over claims he is using body doubles.

A spate of very public appearances by the dictator have led to wild claims that there is an army of doppelgängers.

A visit by Putin to Dagestan this week when he plunged into a crowd and kissed a girl, 13, while behaving in an unusually tactile manner, reignited rumours that he has actors who stand in for him at key moments.

One meme showed Putin in discussions with another Putin.

‘Are you real?’ asked one.

‘Yes,’ replied Putin.

‘Do you have a double?’

‘No.’

Another shows two Putin’s competing to grip the table – his trademark habit.

‘Give it to me,’ said one. ‘No I won’t,’ replied the other.

Another meme showed three Putins.

It was captioned: ‘Putin said he didn’t have a double and he was right – because he had a triple.’

One more shows multiple Putins sitting around a drinks-laden table.

‘Last-minute consultations before a tour to the provinces,’ says the caption.

Another says: ‘Out of Putin’s six body doubles only three are left.’

Yet another shows 18 different Putins along with his quote: ‘I never had body doubles.’

A long standing rumour in Moscow is that Putin uses body doubles due to hidden health problems including cancer.

Others say the use of ‘understudies’ is due to paranoia over security concerns.

Putin has admitted his officials suggested using doubles – as Soviet leaders often did – but said he turned it down.

A video of Putin – or his stand-in – drawing a face at a hi-tech forum this week was also used against him.

It runs with a caption reading: ‘Putin’s double shows how he looked before plastic surgeries.’

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