Russia is facing unprecedented sanctions over its aggression in Ukraine. Now it is heard that Alina Kabayeva is the next target of the European Union (EU) sanctions. But, who is this Alina?
Introducing Alina Kabayeva, the BBC reports that she is a politician, media mogul and former Russian Olympic gymnast. And if the rumors are true, this Alina is the ‘lover’ of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ‘mother of a few children’.
The BBC says sanctions imposed by other countries, including the EU, are aimed at punishing those close to Putin. Among them are a group of Russian ‘oligarchs’ or millionaires, politicians and other government officials. It is said that these people have benefited from their closeness to Putin.
Last month, the United States and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Putin’s two daughters, Maria Voronsova, 36, and Katerina Tikhonova, 35. Maria and Katerina, children of Putin and his ex-wife Ludmila.
So far, Alina Kabayeva has managed to avoid Western sanctions. Presumably, Alina may have guessed that something was going to happen. An online petition last March called for his eviction from his residence in Switzerland.
Alina is being targeted for her role in the Kremlin’s propaganda and for her “close association” with 69-year-old President Putin, the AFP news agency reported. However, the draft sanctions do not identify Alina as Putin’s girlfriend or girlfriend. The EU has not yet formally signed the sanctions resolution.
Russia’s supreme leader, Vladimir Putin, has maintained a high level of secrecy over personal matters. When asked about his personal life, he always avoided those questions.
Putin, however, has publicly and unequivocally denied his involvement with Alina Kabayeva.
In 2006, the Moskovsky correspondent claimed that Putin was planning to divorce his wife, Ludmila, and marry Alina Kabayeva. Putin and Elena both denied the allegations. Soon after, Russian authorities shut down the newspaper. Putin and Ludmila announced their divorce five years later.
When Russian President Alina denied any involvement with Alina, Alina was busy paving the way for the transition from a successful sports personality to a successful politician.
Rhythmic or ‘rhythmic’ gymnastics was Alina’s event. In this type of gymnastics, the contestants display their physical skills and abilities with the help of equipment like ribbons and balls.
Alina Kabayeva is considered by many to be the best gymnast in her time. In cricket, Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan is known as ‘Dilscope’ shot, while in rhythmic gymnastics there is a special ‘move’ named after Alina. Alina was the best performer on the Russian team, dominating rhythmic gymnastics. Russia has won all Olympic gold medals in the event from 2006 to 2017.
Elena’s success at the 2000 Sydney Olympics then fell into disarray. Basina Alina made an unusual mistake while performing in her own event. He only had to return home with a bronze medal that year. Four years later, he returned to form at the Athens Olympics. Alina won a gold medal in that Olympics.
Alina has won a total of 18 World Championship medals and 25 European Championship medals in her career. Besides, there is an Olympic medal. Like many Russian athletes, Alina Guy also suffered from doping. Elena lost a medal at an event in 2001 at a dope test.
After leaving the game, Alina came into politics. He was a member of the ruling United Russia party from 2007 to 2014 and held his seat in the lower house of the Russian parliament.
After leaving the game, Alina came into politics. Photo: Collected
Russian state media have been reporting pro-Kremlin messages on the Russia-Ukraine war. These media outlets have been accusing Ukrainians of firing on their own cities. And at the same time presenting the Russian army as a ‘liberator’.
Alina is said to have become one of the richest women in Russia thanks to her position. According to various leaked documents, Alina’s annual income is close to 12 million US dollars.
It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. However, it is not uncommon for the president of his country to meet a top Olympian. In 2001, a picture of the couple was published. In the photo, Putin is seen awarding Alina Russia’s highest state honor, the Order of Friendship.
A Swiss newspaper claims that Alina Kabayeva gave birth to a baby boy in 2015 at a special clinic near Lugano Lake and another boy in the same place in 2019. However, the Sunday Times and The Wall Street Journal say that Alina gave birth to twins in Moscow in 2019. However, there is disagreement between the two media outlets about how many children Elena has.
The photo shows Putin and Alina in 2004. File picture
Putin himself never mentioned the names of his children to Ludmila’s fetus in public. That’s all he says – he has two adult daughters. Putin’s style of maintaining personal privacy suggests that speculation about his relationship with Alina or the issue of children will continue.
Since the news of her relationship with Putin broke, Alina has been in the spotlight, including in the regular media. Sometimes in the direct light of the footlights, sometimes a little out of the discussion.
Alina appeared on the cover of the famous Vogue magazine in 2011. In the photo, she is seen in an expensive gold-plated dress of a famous French fashion house. Alina carries the torch for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
It was rumored that Alina was hiding in public. He appeared at a junior gymnastics festival in Moscow last month. There he praised Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine. Some media outlets said at the time that Alina came after the wedding band (ring).
Russia has called for sanctions against Alina since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The United States is reluctant to impose sanctions on Alina Kabayeva, The Wall Street Journal reports. The United States fears that Putin could take such a step as a “highly personal attack” and could escalate the ongoing tensions.
However, the BBC still feels that the issue of US sanctions on Alina cannot be completely ruled out. Because last month, when reporters asked then-White House Press Secretary Jane Saki why Alina was not on the latest U.S. sanctions list, Saki replied, “No one is safe (from being on the list).
