A woman who has been speculated for years that she has a romantic relationship with the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is one of the few people close to the president who has not been subject to sanctions by the United States to pressure him for the invasion. to Ukraine.
But that could change.
US officials suspect that Alina Kabaeva, 39, a former Russian Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics, is one of the people in Putin's entourage who has helped hide the president's money and property.
Kabaeva is believed to be the mother of at least three of the president's children, although neither she nor Putin have acknowledged such a relationship.
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In recent weeks, the United States and the European Union have imposed several rounds of mostly economic sanctions against Russia, in general, and against Putin and some of his relatives and ministers, in particular.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hands flowers to then-Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva, after awarding her the Order of Friendship, during the annual award ceremony in the Kremlin on June 8, 2001.Getty Images
Although sanctions, such as isolating Russian banks from the international SWIFT system, are having a negative impact on the Russian population, there is no indication that they have dealt more than a symbolic blow against Putin.
They have also failed to stop the advance of Russian troops in Ukraine.
US officials quoted by
The Wall Street Journal
said that although Putin's alleged girlfriend has not been subject to sanctions so far, it does not mean that she is not the focus of possible punitive measures.
Asked about the alleged relationship with Alina Kabaeva, Putin said in 2008 that he disliked "those who, with their runny noses and erotic fantasies, break into other people's private affairs."
Kabaeva has publicly supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Former Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva attends a reception at the Bocharov Ruchey state residence on February 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia.Getty Images
According to US officials, she and her family have become rich from the relationship with Putin.
She is believed to spend long periods in Switzerland, where Putin also frequently travels.
The Government of Ukraine has repeatedly called on the United States to take action against it.
Ukraine's parliament wrote to the Swiss government this month demanding it expel her from the country and seize any property she owns, but Switzerland has responded that it has no indication she was in the country.
Kabaeva was born in Uzbekistan and was engaged in sports from an early age.
At the age of 21, she won a gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
She also won bronze at the Sydney Games in 2000.
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She began to be called "the most flexible woman in Russia" for her prowess.
However, having tasted success she was stripped of her medals at the world championships in Madrid in 2001 after testing positive for a banned diuretic.
Vladimir Putin maintains a tight secrecy about his private life.
It is known that he has two daughters (Katerina Tikhonova, 35, and Maria Vorontsova, 36) from his marriage to Ludmilla Shkrebneva, whom he divorced in 2014.
