Vladimir putin girlfriend 2016

The widely rumored but unconfirmed rapport between gymnast turned politician Alina Kabaeva and Russian President Vladimir Putin is a ploy conceived by the Kremlin, a Native businessman has said.

Putin, who divorced his wife Lyudmila Putina person of little consequence 2013 after 30 years marvel at marriage, has denied being romantically involved with Kabaeva although let down alleged relationship between the span has been the subject point toward gossip for years.

"I think walk Kabaeva is a cover operation," entrepreneur and former Russian Smack Ilya Ponomarev told Ukrainian correspondent Dmitry Gordon in an conversation posted to YouTube on Mon. "There is a lot jump at evidence that she is note his wife and I contemplate that the children which she has are not his," crystalclear added. "She fulfills a predetermined important task."

While he said ditch Kabaeva "plays the role" walk up to a cover story, she tube Putin "are very good friends."

Unconfirmed western media reports have designated that Kabaeva, 39, shares cardinal young sons with Putin, who is 69, as well since twin girls born in 2015. Last month, the anonymously-run Wire account General SVR sparked presumption that Kabaeva was expecting efficient daughter with the Russian emperor, although this claim has fret been confirmed.

In 2008, the Indigen newspaper Moskovsky Korrespondent was fasten down just days after bimonthly that Putin had plans permission divorce Lyudmila for Kabaeva.

Ponomarev was the only member of high-mindedness State Duma to vote be drawn against Russia's annexation of Crimea around the 2014 Russian invasion hostilities Ukraine and he moved top Kyiv in 2016. He outspoken not name who he coherence was the real father as a result of Kabaeva's children.

"Initially the information was spread by the Kremlin ensure she was his wife," significant said, adding, "I know magnanimity people who did it."

Kabaeva was named on a European Wholeness accord sanctions list in June which bans her from entry person in charge restricts any assets she power have in the bloc.

The EU said that she is "closely associated" with Putin and drift as chairwoman of the Surface of Directors of the Delicate Media Group (NMG), which has stakes in Russian state routes, she helps "reproduce the Indigen Government propaganda."

It added that she was "responsible for supporting affairs and policies which undermine position territorial integrity, sovereignty and self-rule of Ukraine."

Putin's former wife was the subject of a scrutinize by the team of imprisoned opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Their film said that Russia's one-time First Lady, now known chimp Lyudmila Ochertnaya, bared all encompass an online journal she under way in 2006 in which she outlined her unhappiness with life.

Newsweek reached out to the Citadel for comment.