Explosive new allegations from Russian investigative journalists claim Vladimir Putin ‘regularly’ cheated on his long-term partner, Alina Kabaeva, with an underage beauty pageant contestant.
The Calendar and the Initial Contact
According to the investigative outlet Proekt, the scandal began with a racy calendar created by the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi to mark the then-Prime Minister’s birthday. The calendar featured young women, and a copy was sent to the Kremlin complete with the contestants' contact details.
The report alleges that Putin, then 58, was particularly taken with Alisa Kharcheva, the model who posed as Miss April. Her image was captioned: 'Vladimir Vladimirovich, you are the best!' Shortly after the calendar was delivered, Alisa reportedly received a call inviting her to a meeting at Putin’s official suburban residence, Novo-Ogaryovo.
A Covert Fortnightly Routine
The investigations claim that a long-lasting intimate relationship subsequently began between the head of state and Kharcheva, who was just 17 years old at the time. The school-leaver was allegedly smuggled into his residence or a bolthole once every two weeks.
These visits were said to be strategically timed to coincide with the absences of Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gymnast and Putin’s main partner, who is the mother of his two sons. His former wife, Lyudmila, was also no longer living with him at the time.
Despite the secrecy of the affair, Alisa’s public profile was not hidden. She appeared on television discussing the calendar and was fast-tracked into the finals of the Miss Russia 2011 pageant, broadcast on the state-friendly NTV channel. The whole country watched the prime minister’s alleged lover parade in swimsuits and evening gowns, though she did not win, placing in the top ten.
Political Machinations and the Aftermath
The Nashi movement bosses allegedly saw Alisa’s access to Putin as a tool for influence, hoping to use her to pass on requests in a manner reminiscent of the court of King Louis XV. However, the report suggests their attempts to exploit the relationship likely irritated Putin, and no major initiatives were successfully implemented through this channel.
While the relationship eventually ended, the journalists claim Putin ensured Kharcheva was well looked after. She was admitted to the prestigious MGIMO university, received a luxury Moscow apartment, and today co-owns a successful chain of elite tanning studios. When questioned about the flat and her links to Putin, Kharcheva did not deny the claims, calling the questions 'stupid' and insisting she had a mortgage.
These lurid revelations paint a stark contrast to Putin’s public espousal of traditional family values. A recent book, 'The Tsar in Person', claims he prefers 'free' relationships and has slept with 'a multitude of women'. Putin has famously stated that his private life must be respected and deplored those who 'with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others' lives'.
