Alina Kabaeva, the former Olympic gymnast widely believed to be Vladimir Putin's long-term partner, reportedly lives a life of luxury but under strict control, according to investigative reports. The 42-year-old is thought to be one of Russia's wealthiest women, with a hidden property empire worth at least £81.85 million, yet she is kept out of the public eye by the Russian president.
Kabaeva, who won two Olympic medals and numerous world and European titles, is alleged to share two sons with Putin: Ivan, 10, and Vladimir junior, six. The boys are said to live in isolation from other children, enjoying a privileged but sheltered existence at Putin's heavily guarded palace in Valdai, a freezing town north of Moscow.
Independent investigative outlet Dossier Centre claims that Kabaeva's wealth stems from her relationship with Putin, including secret payments from a military unit when she was just 17, years before their rumoured romance began. She formerly served as a pro-Putin MP and later headed a Kremlin-friendly media group, with a last known annual salary of approximately £8 million.
However, her lifestyle comes with restrictions. When attending Putin's hockey matches, she watches from a private box behind tinted glass, separated from his entourage. Analysts describe her existence as that of a 'prisoner' rather than a queen. Nina Khrushcheva, a professor at the New School in New York, told The Atlantic: 'Kabaeva must have thought she would become a queen, but turned out a prisoner. This is the Kremlin's tragedy.'
Rumours of the relationship first emerged in 2008, when a newspaper claimed Putin planned to marry Kabaeva. Putin dismissed the reports as 'tittle-tattle' and criticised those with 'snotty noses and erotic fantasies'. Despite his denial, independent journalists have continued to investigate, uncovering details of Kabaeva's concealed assets and the couple's alleged secret family.
