Putin's visitors reportedly banned from wearing watches
Russia's Federal Protective Service has tightened requirements for visitors to Russian leader Vladimir Putin – they are now required to hand over wristwatches before one-on-one meetings.
Source: Mozhem Obyasnit, a Russian media outlet, citing two sources
Quote: "Phones have been banned for a long time, and now watches – both electronic and mechanical – have been added to these requirements."
Details: The source added that the rule came into effect "around mid-April".
The outlet claims it has verified that officials are indeed not wearing watches when they meet Putin. For example, Tambov Oblast head Yevgeny Pervyshov appeared without a watch at a meeting with Putin despite being seen wearing one in other settings, both in daily life and at official events, including a speech in the State Duma. Artyom Zdunov, head of the Republic of Mordovia, also appeared without a watch.
The most striking example is Sergei Kogogin, general director of lorry manufacturer KamAZ. At a meeting with the Kremlin leader, both his wrists were free of watches, as is clear from footage released by the Kremlin press service on 5 May. Yet during a meeting with Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on 22 October 2025, a watch was clearly visible on Kogogin's wrist. A journalist who covers KamAZ has confirmed that he wears one in everyday life.
However, the stringent new requirements do not apply to members of Putin's close circle – that is, people who have known him for a long time, the source said.
"They also hand in their phones, but the watch issue doesn't apply to them – at least for now. Smaller fry are no longer allowed anything," the source claimed.
This claim is supported by footage from a meeting between Putin and Rostec head Sergey Chemezov. A watch is visible on the left wrist of the state corporation chief, but not on those of ordinary officials and governors. Chemezov and Putin have been friends for over 40 years.
Verifying the sources' claims, the media outlet also noted that Putin himself has started not wearing a watch during one-on-one meetings in his office. However, at one such audience – with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov – a mishap occurred. Putin apparently forgot to take off his timepiece. As a result, he sat through the entire meeting covering it with his left hand. This is clearly visible in a five-minute video posted on the Kremlin's channel on RuTube. For almost four minutes, Putin sits opposite Kadyrov and the cameras with his hand over his watch.
Background: A report by a European intelligence agency stated that Putin is concerned about the risk of a coup involving former defence minister and current Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, as well as an assassination attempt using drones by members of the Russian elite.
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