Russian President Vladimir Putin has long been rumoured to have a ‘secret girlfriend’ Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gymnast with whom Putin allegedly shares at least two children.
In the early days of the war, it was thought she was hiding out with their children at a villa in Switzerland. Since then, Kabaeva has made sporadic appearances at public events. Most recently, she was spotted in Siberia.
Alina Kabaeva spotted in Siberia
Kabaeva was photographed attending a gymnastics event, the Evgeniya Cup, as a special guest in Omsk, Siberia. The event reportedly featured child competitors from areas of Ukraine illegally occupied by Russia, as well as from pro-Putin states such as Belarus and Cuba.
Kabaeva sat on a panel with other judges, before presenting a winner with flowers and posing for pictures with young female contestants and other members of the judging panel.
Omsk is over 2,000 miles away from at least two palaces she is believed to share with Putin – one located in the forests of Valdai in the north of Russia, the other on a cliff top with a view of the Black Sea in Gelendzhik.
It is not known how long she will stay in Siberia.
Alina Kabaeva in politics?
There have been rumours recently that Kabaeva is considering a move into a major political role in Putin’s regime.
Some think she wants to succeed the speaker of the country’s senate for Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, 74, the most senior female official in Putin’s circle, who many believe is ready for retirement.
Kabaeva and Matviyenko were seen together last month at a gymnastics centre owned by Kabaeva in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where Putin’s summer palace is situated.
What’s been described as a ‘nepotistic move’ has sparked speculation that she could even ultimately succeed Putin as Russian President, according to Daily Mail.
Kabaeva was seen wearing a ring on her wedding finger which some believe indicates a ‘secret marriage’ to Putin, and was accompanied by secret service bodyguards when she met Matviyenko.
