The new Putin biography by British journalist Philip Short not only gives an insight into Vladimir Putin’s career, but also into his private life.
Moscow – The private life of Russia’s ruler Vladimir Putin is considered one of Russia’s best-kept secrets, and reporting on it was taboo for years in the Russian media, then virtually forbidden. Now, however, some details from the life of Russia’s head of state are addressed in a new biography, including his alleged longtime partner Alina Kabaeva.
Until a few months ago, the former Olympic gymnast and member of the Russian parliament was considered one of the most important decision-makers in a large Russian media group. Since the start of the Ukraine war and decisions by the EU and Great Britain to impose sanctions on many rich and influential Russians, Kabaeva has largely withdrawn from the public eye.
Putin’s alleged lover Alina Kabaeva: What role does she play
In the new Putin biography, however, author Philip Stone raises the question of what role Kabaeva plays in Putin’s political decisions. He suspects that the acquaintance with the then early 20s may have changed Putin’s style of politics from the mid-2000s, especially in the field of foreign policy. This is reported by the US magazine Newsweek in its review of the book.
According to Stone’s interpretation, a change in Putin’s behavior was evident with the beginning of the alleged relationship between Kabaeva and Putin, from which several children are now said to have come. According to Stone, this could also be due to the fact that Putin’s then-wife Lyudmila Ocheretnaya, from whom the Russian ruler divorced in 2014, moved into the background.
Alleged Putin mistress: Did Alina Kabaeva influence Putin’s foreign policy
According to the Newsweek book review, Stone asks himself: “Was that one of the factors that favored the fact that Russian foreign policy appeared more self-confident on the Russian side, but was received more and more aggressively in the West?” Stone finds a clear answer to the question based on the Putin’s very private way of dealing with his personal life, but after eight years of research on the book he still thinks it’s possible.
In general, Stone’s aim with his book is neither to “demonize” Putin nor to “acquit him of guilt,” a review in the US newspaper Washington Post quotes the author as saying. Nevertheless, according to this criticism, Stone repeatedly emphasizes that the West is largely to blame for the development of relations with Russia. Short openly doubts many of the controversies considered extremely likely among experts, an involvement of the Russian government in the so-called “Panama Papers” or a role in the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal.
Alleged relationship with Vladimir Putin: Thousands of Swiss wanted to get rid of Alina Kabaeva
Although there is no official evidence that Putin and Kabaeva actually have a personal connection, the EU has sanctioned the ex-gymnast and politician, who is said to be living with her children in Switzerland for most of the year, as a result of the Ukraine war . The reason given was that she had “connections to a listed person who actively supports the violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine”. A petition ran in Switzerland in the spring calling for Kabaeva to be expelled from the country. (ska)
