Lex Libertas

UPDATE: Putin denies the relationship with Kabaeva in a press conference in Italy, calling it an “erotic fantasy”

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.

The first sentence is a pretty clear denial, but the second line seems to mitigate that denial. “Respect the limits around my private life” is usually a line used by politicians when a real scandal erupts . . .

UPDATE 2: The original reporting newspaper has been shut down for “financial reasons.” The website reads:

Disconnected by the administrator and unavailable at the current time

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Rumors have been floating around the Russian President Vladimir Putin may have divorced his wife and gotten engaged to 24 year old super-famous gymnast Alina Kabaeva (Алина Кабаева). Details are sketchy, and it is in no way official. None of the major papers or news services have reported it, though since they’re owned by the government, that doesn’t preclude it’s veracity.

Basically, the story is this: Putin secretly divorced his wife, and is planning a wedding with Kabaeva. This was leaked to the press by a company involved in setting up the wedding banquet.

First reported by Moscow Correspondent, the newspapers owner was on vacation at the time of publishing, and claims he only read about it after it had been printed. He has said that the story should now be either proven or withdrawn. Other sources have indicated that it may be a long-running April Fool’s joke by Dmitry Medvedev’s wife, Svetlana.

Moscow Correspondent tried to get an official comment from Alina Kabaeva, but her press-secretary was not very helpful:

We won’t make any comment. You have until this evening (April 16) to let me know if you will or if you will not print a retraction. If this evening I don’t receive from you an answer, or if you tell me that you won’t retract the story, then we’ll start the legal proceedings.

Apparently the newspaper tried several times to get a comment from Kabaeva, and they refuse to say anything. The newspaper has said they will print whatever Kabaeva says. Instead of answering, however, the press secretary told the paper to print a retraction explaining that the source for the article provided false information. The party decoration company in question, “Carnivale-Style” has commented “we did not participate in such a tender” (bid for the wedding contract). Since Kabaeva won’t even deny the story, however, the newspaper doesn’t feel it appropriate at this time to issue a retraction. Though they do end their current reporting by admitting that “we ourselves believed with difficulty that the Olympic champion will marry the Russian president.”

Alina Kabaeva is a talented rhythmic gymnast, and well-known pop culture figure. Here’s the music video for a song written about her:

Here is her ribbon routine from Athens in 2004. She was considered the hands-down best in the world with ribbon. I love the vibrant green color:

Ribbon from Sydney 2000:

I actually saw Kabaeva perform this routine. I was at the European Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics in 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland. A friend of mine from UCLA, who was studying in Paris when I was in Grenoble, did rhythmic gymnastics as a child. I had never heard of the sport, but tagged along on the trip:

Moreover, she recently became a member of parliament, and there are some pictures out that show her and another gymnast-turned-MP acting liked bored schoolgirls:

If I was that Deputy, I’d be sure not to be any more such pictures!

Here are some other general pictures: