Vladimir Putin (L) smiles next to Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva during a meeting with the Russian Olympic team
(Picture: REUTERS)A petition to boot Vladimir Putin’s alleged lover out of Switzerland has attracted more than 64,000 signatures.
Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 38, once referred to as “Russia’s most flexible woman”, has reportedly been sent to a “private and secure” Swiss chalet earlier this month as her rumoured lover continued to lead the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kabaeva, who was also a pro-Putin MP, is believed to be the Russian President’s mistress and mother to four of his children whom he has never officially recognised.
She is also the chairman of the board of directors at National Media Group - a major Kremlin-friendly TV and newspaper network - with a salary of almost £8million a year.
In 2008, a Russian newspaper reported that Putin was engaged to marry Kabaeva. The story was denied, the newspaper shut down and Putin and his then wife Lyudmila Putina continued to make public appearances.
This didn’t put an end to the speculation. Though denied, reports have alleged that Kabaeva gave birth to Putin’s son in 2008, a daughter in 2012, another daughter in 2015 and twin sons in 2019.
Tens of thousands have now signed a petition to have Kabaeva deported from Switzerland, of which she and her children are claimed to now be residents.
The petition blasts her as “the favourite wife of delusional dictator and war criminal who has been treacherously attacking Ukraine over the past weeks”.
The organisers questioned why, “given the volume of sanctions placed on Russia” Swiss authorities continue to host her and her family at a time when Putin “is destroying the lives of millions”.
“For the first time in modern history, your country has violated its neutrality, which it did not even do vis-à-vis Nazi Germany in the 20th century, and joined the sanctions against Putin and his surroundings.
“And now you are allowing his favourite mistress and her children to hide within the borders of your state.”
It ends: “Have principles and be severe in this case of today’s crime against humanity of all the beneficiaries of Putin’s regime! Reunite Eva Braun with her Führer!”
There is currently no independently verified evidence that Kabaeva is currently hiding out in Switzerland with her children.
Putin has never confirmed how many children he has, telling reporters: “I have a private life in which I do not permit interference”.
But according to historians he could have up to five children with Kabaeva alone, which could take the total to seven.
Despite announcing they would be imposing sanctions on Russia, Switzerland’s ambassador in the US said that it was “still neutral,” the Independent reports.
Jacques Pitteloud said: “We’re still neutral. At the same time, we’re putting additional emphasis on something else that is very important to small countries like Switzerland – the respect of international law.
“International law may not be that important for big countries, but for small countries, it is a matter of survival.”
