Russian President Vladimir Putin has been been linked for more than a decade with Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva
Speculation is mounting that Vladimir Putin’s ‘longtime girlfriend’ is getting impatient and demanding to know when he will marry her.
The Russian president has been linked for more than a decade with Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva, 35, now head of a major Moscow media company.
There are even whispers that the pair have a secret family, denied by the Kremlin.
Journalist Alexander Yunashev from LifeNews tabloid – controlled by Kabayeva – demanded of 66 year old divorcee Putin at his annual televised press conference in Moscow: ‘When will you get married? And with whom?’
The Kremlin strongman smiled and – appearing happy to have been asked the question – admitted he intends to wed again in future.
‘As a decent person I will have to do this sooner or later,’ he told the questioner.
He did not mention who he would marry, but many took the question as either pressure from Kabayeva or the start of a Kremlin PR campaign to reveal the identity of Russia’s first lady.
Putin divorced former wife Lyudmila in 2014 after a joint appearance to announce their split.
Since then Kabayeva has appeared several times wearing what seems to be a wedding ring leading to social media memes showing their marriage.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hands flowers to Alina Kabayeva after awarding her with an Order of Friendship during an annual award ceremony in the Kremlin in 2001
Kabayeva, 35, is now head of a major Moscow media company
Alina Kabayeva performs during the 1999 Grand Prix rhythmic gymnastics tournament in Kiev, Ukraine
The question of Putin’s love life is usually seen as taboo in Russia, with the president becoming tetchy if asked about it
The question of Putin’s love life is usually seen as taboo in Russia, with the president becoming tetchy if asked about it.
Yunashev had prefaced his question by saying the state media were banned from raising the subject.
One journalist Dmitry Kolezev – noting Kabayeva’s link to Life – said: ‘So quite literally this was a question from Alina. Beautifully done.’
A Telegram news channel stated: ‘This question was asked by Life, and this is not a coincidence.
‘We are looking forward to seeing the First Lady in 2019!’
Journalist Yunashev said afterwards that he had got Putin to go further than ever before.
‘I think he hinted that soon we will learn something,’ he said.
He noted that ‘at all previous press conferences Vladimir Putin answered this question with quite an abrupt ‘don’t get into my personal life’.
Kabayeva, long seen as one of Russia’s most eligible women, has not been linked to any other suitor for more than a decade.
The question of Putin’s love life is usually seen as taboo in Russia, with the president becoming tetchy if asked about it
Kabayeva, long seen as one of Russia’s most eligible women, has not been linked to any other suitor for more than a decade. A story in a Russian newspaper about the rumoured couple is seen above
Their alleged relationship was revealed by a tabloid Moscow Korrespondent owned by Putin’s former KGB spy colleague Alexander Lebedev.
She has headed the staunchly pro-Kremlin National Media Group since September 2014 after resigning as a pro-Putin MP in the Russian parliament.
The group controls or holds key stakes in a number of TV channels and newspapers.
Her former rhythmic gymnastics coach Irina Viner – wife of billionaire former Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov – has said of Kabayeva’s love life: ‘When Alina finds the right time, she will say it herself.
‘I’m just happy for her.’
Russia currently has no official first lady. Putin once said: ‘I have a private life in which I do not permit interference….it must be respected.’
Yet Kabayeva’s rare public appearances and utterances often fuel speculation about a romantic relationship, and some say she even teases Russians about a possible match.
She once confessed she had met a man who ‘I love very much’, declining to name him.
She gushed: ‘Sometimes you feel so happy that you even feel scared.’
She has denied having children.
In recent years, there have been repeated rumours that Botox had altered the shape of her face.