Inside Putins $30 billion quest to live forever – | Political News

Russian taxpayers are paying an astonishing $28 billion to fund Vladimir Putin’s quest for long life.

While the 73-yr-outdated autocrat’s obsession with anti-ageing was identified, the size of the state funds ploughed into the research is new. Ironically, it comes as Putin seems visibly older under pressure from his conflict in Ukraine, where he’s struggling repeated setbacks.

Among the fast-tracked scientific research is figure on 3D-printing dwelling tissue, and xenotransplantation, or growing human organs inside mini-pigs deemed genetically appropriate to people.

Putin scientists are developing the “world’s first drug” to delay ageing by blocking the key RAGE gene.

The longevity drive is overseen by Putin’s own daughter Maria Vorontsova, 41, an endocrinologist, and his close good friend Mikhail Kovalchuk, 79, head of the Kurchatov Institute, the Soviet-era nuclear research centre, whose brother Yuri, 74, is understood as the dictator’s “banker.”

The cost is almost $800 for each family of four, or $196 per person.

The Russian dictator, 73, told an AI conference: “It is probably possible to reach 150.” He then claimed this was not long enough.

Putin’s foes worry he intends to live and rule for many a long time before handing over to his eldest son Ivan, now aged only 11.

The whole of $28 billion was cited for the price of the Russian longevity research by the Wall Street Journal, notably referring to gene-therapy treatment aimed at slowing mobile ageing as half of the Kremlin’s New Health Preservation Technologies initiative.

Denis Sekirinsky, a Russian science, claimed his nation’s researchers are on course to develop the world’s first gene-therapy drug designed to block the RAGE [Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts] gene, the activation of which triggers mobile ageing.

He supplied no detailed evidence for the audacious declare but the goal chimes with Putin’s dream.

“[A promising area] is gene therapy of ageing,” said Sekirinsky, a Kremlin-linked technocrat.

“The RAGE gene is a receptor whose activation triggers cellular ageing, whereas blocking this gene, on the contrary, can prolong cellular youth.

“Based on this principle, an ambitious goal has been set — to develop the world’s first gene-therapy drug that specifically blocks this receptor.

“The field relies on advanced genetic technologies and represents one of the most promising avenues in the fight against ageing.

“The development is being carried out by the Institute of Biology of Ageing and Medicine.”

Russian scientists have been earlier revealed to have been ordered to handover particulars of their latest research in preventing ageing in a suspected bid to keep alive the dictator and his circle of septuagenarian cronies.

All his palaces are fitted with state of the artwork hospitals to keep him in peak condition.

Russian specialists told told how they have been ordered to submit “development proposals” to cut back cell deterioration.

They have been instructed to spotlight new applied sciences stopping cognitive and sensory impairment, as effectively as strategies for correcting the immune system, and new medical technology based on bioprinting.

The Kremlin ruler has decreed a Russian national project aimed at “preserving the health” of its residents including the struggle against ageing, with an goal to save 175,000 lives by 2030.

At the same time, Putin’s conflict against Ukraine has value virtually half a million lives, a according to British spy company GCHQ this week.

He suffered a major blow last yr with the sudden death at 77 of his long-standing anti-ageing guru Professor Vladimir Khavinson, director of the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology.

Khavinson famously claimed he was developing the key for people to live to 110 or 120 by slowing the method of ageing.

He described Putin as “perfect” in contrast with three earlier Kremlin leaders – Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov and Boris Yeltsin – whose lives he helped to lengthen.

Putin along with his lover Alina Kabaeva, 42, is believed to have taken Khavinson’s anti-ageing and healing cocktails, pioneered after years of secret research while working for the Soviet Red Army.

Investigative journalist and historian Ilya Davlyatchin claimed Putin is definitely aiming at the age of 97, not 150.

“This is the year 2050,” he said.

“It’s simple – then his eldest son Ivan will turn 35 – the age when one can be elected to the [Russian] presidential post.”