Anti-Kremlin website publishes first photograph of Putin's secret son (10)
An anti-Kremlin website has published a photograph of Vladimir Putin's secret son for the first time.
The Russian president fathered the 10-year-old boy, Ivan Vladimirovich Putin, with his mistress, gymnast Alina Kabaeva.
'VChK-OGPU has obtained a photo of the most secret and probably the loneliest boy in Russia', their Telegram channel reads.
'This is Ivan Vladimirovich Putin. He hardly communicates with other children, spending all his time with guards, governesses, and teachers.'
It was previously reported that Putin is 'dismayed' by the pre-teens interest in Disney cartoons and characters.
The Dossier Center reports that Putin is upset by his son's hobby because it means he "did not succeed in protecting his children from Western influence.'
In January 2024 he said "your head will fall off" from watching "modern Western-made cartoons", adding that Soviet cartoons "are of a completely different quality.'
Ivan also has a younger brother, Vladimir Jr. who is 4 years old.
Putin has never publicly acknowledged his young sons, however, he did slip up on state propaganda channel RT when he referred to watching fairy tales with his 'little ones'.
'Our historic fairy tales and epic tales are being revived,' he said during a question-and-answer session.
'I myself sometimes watch these with pleasure with my little ones.'
The brothers reportedly see little of their parents or their peers as they are home schooled.
Putin's 41-year-old girlfriend Alina Kabaeva is one of Russia's most revered gymnasts.
She has never addressed the rumours about her relationship and is rarely photographed in public.
Vladimir Putin with Alina Kabaeva
Russian investigative journalists had previously uncovered a web of property links between Putin's inner circle and Ms Kabaeva's family.
In 2016, Russia's TV Rain reported that a childhood friend of Putin and his long-time associate both transferred the ownerships of three luxurious apartments in Moscow and St Petersburg's high-end neighbourhoods to Kabaeva's grandmother.
Separately, Putin's judo sparring partner reportedly gifted more property to Ms Kabaeva's sister and grandmother.
Putin has two older daughters with his ex-wife Lyudmila, and another secret daughter, Ekaterina Krivonogikh, with his former mistress Svetlana Krivonogikh.
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