Russian President Vladimir Putin's rumored mistress, Alina Kabaeva, has been pictured in public for the primary time since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine started.
Kabaeva, 38, a former Olympic gymnast, made a uncommon public look this week when she attended the primary rehearsal of a junior rhythmic gymnastics competition at Moscow's VTB Enviornment. The competition, set to happen on Saturday, is called after the athlete.
Photos of Kabaeva attending the occasion have been revealed on Thursday on Instagram by Ekaterina Sirotina, head coach of Russia's junior nationwide rhythmic gymnastics crew.
"First rehearsal day of the #FestivalofAlinaKabaeva," Sirotina, one of many administrators of the competition, wrote.
Kabaeva, who hardly ever makes public appearances, was photographed with members of the gymnastics crew. In accordance with native media shops, Kabaeva watched the gymnasts carry out and provided recommendation.
She has two Olympic medals, 14 World Championship medals and 21 European Championship medals.
Putin, 69, who divorced his then-wife Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Ocheretnaya in 2013 after three a long time of marriage, has denied being romantically concerned with Kabaeva. The previous gymnast has additionally declined to verify rumors that she is or has been in a relationship with the Russian chief.
For years, rumors have circulated about an alleged relationship between the pair. Kabaeva has been dubbed as "Russia's First Mistress" and the "Secret First Woman."
In 2008, Russian newspaper, the Moskovsky Korrespondent, was shut down simply days after reporting that Putin had plans to divorce Lyudmila for Kabaeva.
The previous gymnast's final public look was in December 2021, months earlier than Putin launched an invasion in opposition to Ukraine.
She was on the identical venue, Moscow's VTB Enviornment, to take part within the opening ceremony of her rhythmic gymnastics match "Heavenly Grace," native media shops reported on the time.
Wearing an all-white swimsuit, Kabaeva took to the rostrum on the opening ceremony to elucidate that she created her "experimental" match as a result of she wished her sport to be "spectacular" and "distinctive" once more.
After the White Home on April 6 introduced that it was putting sanctions on Putin's two grownup daughters, calls grew for Kabaeva to even be sanctioned.
Georgy Alburov, who works for the jailed Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny, known as for the previous gymnast to be sanctioned "instantly."
"She is the beneficiary of Putin's corruption—her family members get flats and homes purchased with cash stolen from Russians. She is a member of Putin's inside circle, a member of his household who takes benefit of his place," he wrote on Twitter.
Newsweek has contacted Russia's International Ministry for remark.
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