Vladimir Putin stands accused of maintaining a regular secret relationship with a teenage beauty pageant contestant while his long-term partner, Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, was absent from his official residences.
The teenage calendar girl who caught Putin's eye
According to revelations from Russian investigative journalists, 17-year-old school leaver Alisa Kharcheva first came to the Russian leader's attention through a provocative calendar created to mark his birthday. The calendar, produced by youth movement Nashi, featured Alisa as Miss April in what sources describe as an attempt to gain favour with the then-Prime Minister.
The investigative outlet Proekt media reports that Putin received a copy of the calendar complete with contact details for the young women featured. Alisa received a call inviting her to meet at the prime minister's suburban residence less than a month after the calendar's distribution, allegedly leading to the beginning of intimate relations between the teenager and the 58-year-old Russian leader.
Coordinated visits and hidden relationships
The alleged encounters were carefully timed to coincide with absences of Putin's unofficial partner, Alina Kabaeva. The Olympic gold medalist rhythmic gymnast, who reportedly shares two sons with Putin, was apparently unaware of the school leaver's regular visits to the Russian leader's official residence or private boltholes.
Alisa visited Putin approximately once every fortnight, according to the investigative report. While her role as the Russian leader's lover remained concealed from public view, she appeared openly on television discussing the calendar and was fast-tracked into the finals of the Miss Russia contest broadcast on state-owned channel NTV.
Proekt media noted the irony that the entire Russian television audience watched Putin's alleged lover parade in swimsuits and evening gowns during the competition, completely unaware of her reported connection to the nation's leader.
Political manipulation and eventual separation
Organisers from the Nashi movement allegedly attempted to use Alisa's access to Putin to advance their political influence, hoping she might become a modern Russian equivalent of Madame de Pompadour - the influential mistress of King Louis XV of France.
However, the report suggests these attempts to exploit the relationship likely irritated Putin, with sources unable to recall any initiatives actually being implemented through this channel.
When the regular visits eventually ceased, Putin ensured Alisa and her family were well provided for, according to the investigation. Her sportsman father received job offers, while Alisa gained placement at Russia's prestigious MGIMO university and acquired a luxury Moscow apartment.
Today, Alisa Kharcheva co-owns a successful chain of elite tanning studios. When questioned about her links to Putin and whether he assisted with her flat purchase, she responded: "No one has ever asked me such stupid questions," while insisting she had a mortgage on the property.
These latest claims follow the release of 'The Tsar in Person, How Vladimir Putin Fooled Us All', which alleges the Russian leader publicly champions traditional family values while preferring "free" relationships for himself.
