An alleged lover of Vladimir Putin has resurfaced with a 'new look' after reportedly being holed up in a luxury mountain bolthole in Switzerland. Olympic gold-medal gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 38, was spotted at a junior rhythmic gymnastics rehearsal in Moscow.
Photos taken of her at the event have sparked speculation she has had cosmetic surgery, with Russian Cosmopolitan saying “something has really changed in Kabaeva’s face”. Avoiding linking her to Putin, it said of the woman widely believed to be Russia’s unofficial first lady: “Alina Kabaeva is one of the most mysterious and secretive women in our country.
“The gymnast almost never appears in public, does not [appear in] social networks and it is not possible to accidentally see her on the street or in shopping centres.”
Telegram channel Tol’ko Nikomu - also choosing its words carefully to avoid the Russian censor - hinted that she and Putin share the same plastic surgeon, reports the Mirror.
“A new rare appearance of Alina Kabaeva. This time she is dressed casually - and is again seen with a wedding ring. And yes, the handwriting of the family beautician is quite notable.”
A TV version of Kabaeva’s festival will be broadcast on the eve of Russia’s 9 May Victory Day commemoration marking the end of the Second World War. This is seen as the day when Putin will seek to declare some kind of victory in Ukraine, possibly claiming he has seized the entire Donbas for Russia.
Unlike two of Putin’s adult daughters - Maria and Katerina - media mogul Kabaeva, who controls a significant segment of the pro-Kremlin Moscow media, has avoided Western sanctions.
Yet jailed Putin foe Alexei Navalny has demanded sanctions against her. He singled out Kabaeva’s National Media Group arguing that it was likely owned by Putin - who will be 70 this year - personally. Her salary here has been estimated at almost £8million a year.
Navalny posted from jail: “I want to remind you that the National Media Group, which owns the lion's share of this apparatus of lies, undoubtedly belongs to Putin personally, and as such is even formally headed by Putin's mistress Alina Kabaeva.”
