Alina Kabayeva
Posted on 04/18/2008 8:18:42 AM PDT by gandalftb
The Russian tabloid "Moskovsky korrespondent" alleges that the outgoing president secretly divorced his wife, Lyudmilla, over two months ago and will wed Kabayeva on June 15, the day Russia celebrates the Holy Trinity this year.
"His close entourage knows well that Putin, like all healthy men, is not indifferent to beautiful, sporty women," the tabloid wrote.
The rumors have been the talk of Russia since their publication earlier this month. Putin's alleged affair with the attractive young gymnast, who has posed nearly nude for a number of magazines, certainly clashes with the churchgoing, family man image that he has carefully cultivated.
The Russian leader squarely rejected the allegations, stressing that he did not approve of such meddling in his private life.
"Of course, society has the right to know about the lives of public figures, but even in this case there are certain limits," he said. "There is a private life that nobody has the right to interfere with."
Kabayeva's spokeswoman has also denied the rumors.
But the editor in chief of "Moskovsky korrespondent," Grigory Nekhoroshev, defends the article. He says reporters spent weeks checking the facts and that the public has a right to know everything -- whether true or false -- about their president.
"I am 100 percent convinced that people should know this information about leaders," he tells RFE/RL's Russian Service. "They should be aware even of rumors so that a public discussion can take place."
The website skandali.ru, reports that Federal Security Service (FSB) officers raided the offices of "Moskovsky korrespondent" following the controversial piece. They allegedly questioned all the journalists who had a hand in the article and detained Nekhoroshev -- a claim Nekhoroshev himself has rejected, saying FSB officers were in reality a group of friends who had come to pick him up from the office.
(Excerpt) Read more at rferl.org ...
How can he tell? Does she have a racing stripe?
Well, in fairness his new squeeze is a gymnist, and very flexible.
That is clearly the basis of a good, healthy, relationship.
This has nothing at all to do with us. It is his business. Why can’t people butt out of other people’s business?
Alina Kabayeva
We have our rules, where it the picture of this “sporty woman”?
She could hurt you.
"It's good to be the King."
NOT GUILTY!
Go figure.
If you look at pictures of this woman’s face, you can tell she know exactly what she is doing and for reasons of her own.
She’d have made a heck of a Bond villian.
He's KGB, LOL......
From Nick Pisa in Rome
Last Updated: 4:33pm BST 18/04/2008
Vladimir Putin has denied reports that he is about to marry an agile gymnast half his age during an awkward press conference with Silvio Berlusconi, the new Italian prime minister.
Earlier this week Russian newspapers said that the 56-year-old president and Alina Kabaeva, 24, had decided to marry in June.
Silvio Berlusconi speaks with Vladimir Putin
Rumours of a romance have been sweeping Russia for months but a wedding was an unexpected surprise as he has not officially announced his marriage with 50-year-old wife Ludmilla was over.
This morning at a press conference at Mr Berlusconi's villa at Porto Rotondo on the island of Sardinia - a well known millionaires' playground - there was a moment of embarrassment as the question was asked.
Mr Putin gathered his thoughts, and then said sternly: "There is not a word of truth in this story. Politicians live in glass houses, everyone wants to know how they live, but there are limits and there is a private life and these limits should be respected."
Berlusconi - in an attempt to break the ice - quipped: "If you fancy a swap between the Russian press and the Italian press then I am up for it."
Reports of a relationship with Miss Kabaeva have been circulating for months. Besides being a gymnast she is also an MP and model.
Mr Putin had arrived in Sardinia on Thursday and his meeting with Mr Berlusconi was the Italian's first official engagement as Prime Minister for the third time.
It also emerged that Mr Berlusconi had entertained the Russian president with a troupe of Rome dancing girls known as "Il Bagaglino" - sadly minus their stunning star Aida Yespica, a personal favourite of the Italian media tycoon.
Alina Kabaeva: gymnast, MP and model
Numerous(ahem) gymnists pictures.
NOW and PETA would like to go to Russia and protest but fear being returned in pieces to their next of kin.
I don’t get it.
Ok she’s clean. If it said University student or studying law you can pretty much count on her being a hooker. In russia. That’s teh cover. So I’m told.
Unfortunately.
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