If Russia loses the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle are believed to be considering seeking an escape plan, according to a former aide to the Russian president.
"Putin has created an escape plan to flee to South America, more precisely to Venezuela, in the event that Russian forces are defeated in Ukraine", said the former speechwriter of the Russian leader, Abbas Gallyamov, while the head of the Kremlin continues combat efforts in what he has called a 'special military operation' in Ukraine from the beginning, writes The Daily Beast .
Citing a Kremlin source, political expert Gallyamov has also suggested that Putin is exploring the option of asylum in Venezuela as part of a secret plan said to be codenamed "Noah's Ark".
Gallyamov wrote in Telegram that: “I usually do not retell inside stories, but today I will make an exception. As the name (Noah's Ark) implies, it's about finding new lands to go to in case the situation gets downright unpleasant in your homeland.
Putin's inner circle initially considered a plan to evacuate to China, Gallyamov said, but later thought better of it, fearing that the chances of "cooperation" from the Chinese were slim, especially since they despise "losers." Now, he said, the focus has shifted to either Argentina or Venezuela, with Putin ally Igor Sechin currently overseeing an evacuation plan for the latter country.
While now the focus is on Venezuela, but also Argentina and it is Putin's ally, Igor Sechin, who is overseeing the plan. While the lowest-ranking officials in the presidential administration and the Russian government will seek residence in Ecuador, Paraguay and Argentina, according to the report.
In particular, according to the source, officials have bought property on Venezuela's Margarita Island, where they would be safe from extradition.
The leader's close circle does not rule out that he may lose the war, lose power and have to urgently evacuate somewhere."
He added: "Unfortunately, my source does not know any other details, however, what has been said is enough to understand that: when they (Russia) say that "everything is going according to plan", it should be clarified that which plan is it about as it seems clear that they already have more than one plan.”
The Kremlin is facing a long struggle to maintain its front lines in regions remaining under Russian control, amid repeated attempts at counterattacks by Ukrainian forces.
After recapturing Kherson last month, Ukraine is expected to cause further setbacks for Russia.
On the other hand, if this 'escape plan' is in fact true and Russia ends up losing the war against Ukraine, choosing Venezuela as a place of refuge, according to many analysts, would not be the most ideal choice for Putin.
This is because, despite a 'cold war' between Venezuela and the US, which has further complicated the economic situation and hyperinflation in the country, America continues to remain an important ally and Western-leaning politicians are preferred by Venezuelan voters, who still seem to have not lost hope that the US will be the one to pull them out, eventually, from the chaotic situation they have found themselves in for years.