Putin’s lover photographed in public in Moscow

Vladimir Putin’s alleged mistress has resurfaced in Moscow after speculation that she had been hiding out in Switzerland.

Alina Kabaeva, one of Russia’s most revered gymnasts and long rumoured to be the partner of the 69-year-old president, was photographed on Thursday for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The 38-year-old Olympic medallist stopped by a rehearsal at Moscow’s VTB Arena ahead of the Alina festival, her annual charity event, on Saturday.

Photographs of Kabaeva were posted late on Thursday by Ekaterina Sirotina, a wellknown rhythmic gymnastics choreographer, who thanked the former champion for a “very special creative atmosphere at the event.”

Kabaeva has not addressed persistent rumours about marriage or pregnancy, and unlike other Russian celebrities, she is never photographed in public.

Putin and his former wife Lyudmila, who have two children, were divorced in 2014.

Magazines in Russia on Friday dissected Kabaeva’s appearance after the picture emerged, commenting on her $1,100 sneakers and speculating about plastic surgery.

Russian investigative journalists had previously uncovered a web of property links between Putin’s inner circle and Kabaeva’s family.

In 2016, Russia’s TV Rain reported that a childhood friend of Putin and his longtime associate both transferred the ownerships of three luxurious apartments in Moscow and St. Petersburg’s high-end neighbourhoods to Kabaeva’s elderly grandmother.

Separately, Putin’s judo sparring partner reportedly gifted more luxurious property to Kabaeva’s sister and grandmother.

Despite having no experience in journalism or management, the gymnast has served as chairman of the board of National Media Group, a media empire owned by a friend of Putin, since 2014.

Alexei Navalny, Russia’s jailed opposition leader, has described NMG as an asset that “undoubtedly belongs to Putin personally.”

Kabaeva’s name disappeared from NMG’S website earlier this month after fears that the company might face Western sanctions escalated.