Vladimir Putin's alleged girlfriend is a 'cover operation', according to former Russian MP

Putin’srumored relationship with former gymnast,Alina Kabaeva, made headlines when a Russian newspaper reported that he was going to leave his wife for the now-politician. Although the newspaper was suspended shortly after, theories continue to emerge over a decade later.

A ‘cover operation’?

Most recently, the alleged relationship between Putin and Kabaeva was referred to as a ‘cover operation’ by Illya Ponomarev in a video posted to YouTube, says Newsweek.

The former member of the State Duma and entrepreneur explained why he thinks the alleged Putin-Kabaeva relationship is a Kremlin-constructed ploy.:

There is a lot of evidence that she is not his wife…She fulfills a certain important task.

The task? To distract the public? To provide companionship? Although Putin has denied allegations of romantic relations with Kabaeva, Ponomarev confirmed that the two are ‘very good friends’. So good, in fact, that she was put on an EU sanctions list in June due to her close association with the Russian leader.

A ‘speck of sand’ or a desert storm?

With rumors in the air about the Kabaeva’s fifth suspected pregnancy with Putin, could the Kremlin really be turning our gaze away from a potential plot?

Ben Wallace told Independent:

In Kremlin utterances, there is often a tiny grain of truth, a speck of sand amongst a desert of lies. That makes the larger untruths particularly hard to combat.

If the rumors about Russia’s leader and his supposed ‘secret’ first lady did actually spread from the Kremlin, it remains unclear whether the claim is true or false.

Stay tuned for more updates in the continuing Putin-Kabaeva saga.

Read more:

⋙ Vladimir Putin uses the CIA to keep his girlfriend Alina Kabaeva away from her ex

⋙ Vladimir Putin: The President’s girlfriend, Alina Kabaeva, has disappeared online

⋙ Alina Kabaeva: Who is Putin’s girlfriend?