Putin Has Two Sons With Former Olympic Gymnast Kabaeva ...

12 days ago

Forbes

Topline

President Vladimir Putin has two young sons with former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, both of which have been living in secret since their births, according to a report by a Russian investigative group started by a former billionaire Putin foe, though Putin and Kabaeva have denied romantic ties for more than a decade.

Putin, who has publicly acknowledged his three daughters from an earlier marriage, has denied rumors ... [+] of a relationship with Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gold medalist.

Getty Images Key Facts

Putin and Kabaeva share two sons, Ivan Putin and Vladimir Putin Jr., who were born in 2015 and 2019, respectively, according to the Dossier Center, a Russian investigative news organization that cited unnamed sources who claimed to regularly see the children.

Putin, 71, has publicly acknowledged having two daughters with his ex-wife Lyudmila Putin, who Putin married in 1983, according to the Kremlin: Maria, 39, and Katerina, 38.

Dossier Center alleges Kabaeva’s relationship with Putin began as early as 2008, six years before his divorce from Lyudmila was finalized.

Kabaeva, 41, traveled to a maternity clinic in Lugano, Switzerland, to give birth to Ivan and gave birth to Vladimir Jr. in Moscow, according to the report.

Both Ivan and Vladimir Jr. live in Putin’s mansion northwest of Moscow, though they have no interaction with other children their age, Dossier Center reported, and they receive music lessons and have personal trainers for swimming and artistic gymnastics.

Ivan has reportedly competed in artistic gymnastics competitions and often plays in hockey matches with his father.

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.

Big Number

$8,500. That’s how much Putin’s family offered to pay monthly for an English teacher for his two sons, according to Dossier Center, which cited an online advertisement. The ad indicated the family prefers candidates with a South African passport and says the family “lives in isolation.”

Surprising Fact

Ivan is a fan of Disney cartoons and movies and enjoys dressing up as his favorite characters, despite Putin’s criticism of Western animation and preference for Soviet-era cartoons, Dossier Center reported.

Key Background

An alleged affair between Putin and Kabaeva was first reported in 2008, following rumors Putin had secretly divorced his wife. Both Putin and Kabaeva denied claims they were romantically involved at the time.

Who Is Alina Kabaeva?

Kabaeva debuted as a professional gymnast at age 13, later winning a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney in rhythmic gymnastics. She won several gold medals at other competitions before the 2004 Olympics in Athens, during which Kabaeva won a gold medal. Kabaeva then retired and served two years in the lower house of Russia’s parliament while representing Putin’s United Russia party. The U.K. sanctioned several members of Putin’s family in 2022 in addition to Kabaeva, who the British government wrote is “alleged to have a close personal relationship with Putin.”

Tangent

The Dossier Center was launched in 2017 by Mikhail Khodorkovsky—once the richest man in Russia, before Putin turned against him, and he became an opposition activist. He spent nearly a decade in Russian prison for financial crimes, which were reportedly brought forward because Khodorkovsky challenged Putin’s presidency in the early 2000s. He was pardoned by Putin in 2013. The Dossier Center has since been known for probing the secrets of top Russian officials.