Vladimir Putin Likes Flexible Women

This is Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva, a 2004 gold medalist who is, according to her Wikipedia entry, "known for her extreme natural flexibility."

I find it a little disturbing that she can stick her head that far back and her leg that far up, but apparently Russian president Vladimir Putin likes it. A Moscow newspaper reported that Putin will be leaving his wife for Kabaeva after his term in office expires next month.

And in a possible sign that Russia doesn't quite have this whole "freedom of the press" thing down pat, that newspaper has now been shut down. Said the editor of the newspaper, Moskovsky Korrespondent, "Obviously, we aren't ready to explore the private lives of the country's leadership."

The Kremlin's position is that Putin's private life is private. So if you want to know more about Putin and Kabaeva, the First Amendment-protected American media is your best bet.

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Alina Kabayeva

A Russian tabloid, the Moskovsky Korrespondent, claimed last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin was romantically linked to former gymnast Alina Kabayeva. The two, seen here at a 2004 banquet in Moscow, were reportedly planning to marry in St. Petersburg on June 15.

Presidential Press Service / ITAR-TASS / AP

Kabayeva, who is now a lawmaker, was nicknamed one of "Putin's babes" after the president reportedly ordered United Russia to add her and other young women to its candidate list in last year's parliamentary elections. Here, she performs at the 22nd European Rythmic gymnastics championship in Moscow in September 2006.

Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP / Getty Images

Putin, here with his wife, Lyudmila, said "there is not a single word of truth" to the Moskovsky Korrespondent report. The report said the couple had split two months ago and that he planned marry Alina Kabayeva, a former gymnast less than half his age. The Putins wed in 1983.

Mikhail Metzel, AP

Moskovsky Korrespondent began backing away from its story after visits from state security services, The Times Online in London reported. However, Deputy Editor Igor Dudinsky told The Times Online he was "absolutely convinced that the foundation of this story is true, that there was a romance."

Kyodo / AP

Kabayeva, according to her Wikipedia entry, is "known for her extreme natural flexibility."

Vincent Yu, AP

Kabaeva, a two-time Olympic medalist, is one of Russia's most successful rhythmic gymnast. However she was stripped of her 2001 Goodwill Games gold metal due to a positive drug test.

Bela Szandelszky, AP

Source: Aljazeera, AP, Times Online

Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP / Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

4-22-2008 @ 7:12AM

Sharon said...

America doesn't have the market cornered on sleeze.

4-22-2008 @ 7:34AM

Prema said...

I'm jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!

4-22-2008 @ 7:37AM

Peggy Brown said...

Wow - he leaves office at the end of next month and is reported to be marrying again on June 15th.
Gee - talk about a quickie divorce!

4-22-2008 @ 10:04AM

arla said...

Ugly Old men with pretty young women is just not right I don't care how you try to sugarcoat or PC it - it's sickening.

4-22-2008 @ 7:56AM

JD South said...

That gymnast is one fugly beatch! Yikes!

4-22-2008 @ 7:59AM

Arnie Sachnussum said...

Alina Kabaeva must be Russian for horse-face.

4-22-2008 @ 9:32AM

metoo said...

Now you have ugly old women doing the same thing

4-22-2008 @ 8:57AM

Jerome Smith said...

it sure will piss Putin off when he finds out that Bill Clinton has already banged her

4-22-2008 @ 8:59AM

cmist4evr said...

@ alta

She must want something most women do.

thanks,
joel

4-22-2008 @ 9:44AM

ajm33771 said...

damn, is she giving free samples? i wouldnt want old Putin to get taken by a lousey contortionist lol he is in tra-booo will prob die of a neck injury

4-22-2008 @ 9:17AM

Andi Price said...

Do all men think with their gonads and we only hear about it when they are public figures or are abusing young children? That obsessive attitude is enough to turn the average woman off to sex forever. Ick.

4-22-2008 @ 11:44PM

Susan said...

Putin has really turned out to be a money grubbing, power hungery, dirt ball over the years. The last election was such a shame, he just put in his puppet. I never cared for him and I must say, if this is his young, better looking girl, what on earth did his wife look like????

4-22-2008 @ 9:37AM

JohnQ said...

Foreign Gossip is equally BORING

4-22-2008 @ 9:47AM

Bill said...

All of these spread eagle pics and not one good camaltoe shot.... I'm dissappointed.

4-22-2008 @ 10:17AM

knippenr said...

Old American men aren't the only dumbasses in the world. I'm a 60 year old male, so i can say that.

4-22-2008 @ 10:22AM

armin hesterberg said...

Looks as though she is the one trying to be the money grubber, you all pick on him, but she is the one breaking up the marriage, she appears to be the instigator. shame on her

4-22-2008 @ 10:46AM

E~CLASS said...

I BET HE'S ALREADY TESTED HER FLEXIBILITY,I WOULD LEAVE THAT HAG TOO FOR THAT P.Y.T!!

4-22-2008 @ 10:55AM

keepyourchinup said...

i would call her a chin down...but DAMMIT MAN!!look at that chin...is kurk douglas her daddy?

4-22-2008 @ 10:49AM

bill said...

Tear it up vladi you deserve it all that hard work you do alittle rr and spread eagle never hurt nobody. JUst one request when your finished with her can i have her.

4-22-2008 @ 10:51AM

Cin March said...

The news about a possible marriage of Putin and the gymnastic girl and his *previous secret divorce* was silly and infantile, and only one totally disconnected with what goes on in Russia would have possibly believed it could be true. During the same days when the news was on for the public to read and debate, he was on official tour with loads of photographs showing his constant right-hand ring, proving that if he had divorced, he is still commited to it. He was ignoring the stupidity of the news so that not to fall into the media game, but was forced to deny it all at a press conference in Italy where a journalist asked him on it.