Vitaly Brizhaty, a former member of Putin's protection service, says the Russian leader "fears for his life."
Putin makes multiple fake travel plans to keep even his own officers in the dark, he said.
Brizhaty, who fled to Ecuador, said Putin is a war criminal and condemned the invasion of Ukraine.
FSO staff are also cut off from communicating with anyone in the EU, the US, or Ukrainian relatives, as well as anyone who opposes the war, Brizhaty said.
Brizhaty was reported as decrying the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Putin is a war criminal.
Persons:
Vitaly Brizhaty, Putin, Brizhaty, Vladimir Putin's, Gleb Karakulov, Karakulov, —
Organizations:
Service, Federal Protection Service, FSO, Radio Free, Center
Locations:
Ecuador, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Crimea, Radio Free Europe, Oliva, EU, Russia