Putin: Out of the Kremlin, still in the rumor mill
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images The Russian tabloid Moskovsky Korrespondent has spread rumors that outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin has left his wife, Lyudmila Putina, in favor of the younger, sprightlier rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva (left). Kabayeva, known for her medal-winning flexibility, would be quite the catch. Since winning the gold for rhythmic gymnastics (yes, that’s ...
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
The Russian tabloid Moskovsky Korrespondent has spread rumors that outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin has left his wife, Lyudmila Putina, in favor of the younger, sprightlier rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva (left).
The Russian tabloid Moskovsky Korrespondent has spread rumors that outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin has left his wife, Lyudmila Putina, in favor of the younger, sprightlier rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva (left).
Kabayeva, known for her medal-winning flexibility, would be quite the catch. Since winning the gold for rhythmic gymnastics (yes, that’s the one with the hula-hoops), the Uzbek native has not only appeared in this music video but now currently serves as a parliament member in the lower house of the Duma –- representing Putin’s party, of course.
Today, however, at a meeting with Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi, Putin flatly denied the story as containing “not a single word of truth.” That’s just as well for Miss Kabayeva. This is what Lyudmila has to say about life in the happy Putin home:
He never praises me and that has totally put me off cooking… He has put me to the test throughout our life together. I constantly feel that he is watching me…”
Guess once you’ve gone KGB there’s no going back.
More from Foreign Policy


Is Cold War Inevitable?
A new biography of George Kennan, the father of containment, raises questions about whether the old Cold War—and the emerging one with China—could have been avoided.


So You Want to Buy an Ambassadorship
The United States is the only Western government that routinely rewards mega-donors with top diplomatic posts.


Can China Pull Off Its Charm Offensive?
Why Beijing’s foreign-policy reset will—or won’t—work out.


Turkey’s Problem Isn’t Sweden. It’s the United States.
Erdogan has focused on Stockholm’s stance toward Kurdish exile groups, but Ankara’s real demand is the end of U.S. support for Kurds in Syria.