Ilya Ponomarev, the only member of Russian parliament to vote against the annexation of Crimea in 2014, believes waning support could mean the despot is murdered this year by his inner circle.
An agent for the Danish Defence Intelligence Service FE said the Russian tyrant is suffering from chronic pain which explains why he has been tightly gripping tables and chairs for support.
Putin, 70, is being watched closely as the conflict in Ukraine is seen as his personal war - which could end if his supposed illness worsened or he was overthrown.