Russia-Ukraine War: Why US Officials Are Not Punishing Vladimir Putin's Rumored Girlfriend

The US and its allies have been imposing sanctions on Russia's major enterprises and corporate and political elites, all the way up to President Vladimir Putin, for many weeks.

Alina Kabaeva, the woman the US government thinks to be Vladimir Putin's lover and the mother of at least three of his children, was spared in a last-minute decision.

US Withholds Sanctions on Vladimir Putin's Alleged Girlfriend

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that US authorities decided against implementing penalties against Russian President Vladimir Putin's reputed lover, 38-year-old gymnast and Olympic gold winner Alina Kabaeva, since the move was deemed too harsh.

According to the publication, a probe into Russia's meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections indicated that Kabaeva profited from Putin's clout and personal fortune. The US government suspects Kabaeva of hiding part of Putin's riches overseas and believes she is the mother of at least three of Putin's children.

However, possible penalties on Kabaeva were finally delayed since the move was seen as "such a personal blow to Mr. Putin that it may further aggravate tensions between Russia and the United States," according to the Journal.

Kabaeva's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a subject of speculation for years. Putin had planned to divorce his longstanding wife, Lyudmila, to be with Kabaeva, according to the Russian publication Moskovsky Korrespondent in 2008. Two days later, the publication was shut down. Putin stated that he and Lyudmila had split up five years later.

Kabaeva started her international rhythmic gymnastics career in 1996 and went on to win two Olympic gold medals, making her one of the sport's most decorated competitors. She retired in 2007 and was immediately promoted to high-ranking positions in the Russian government and state-owned enterprises.

She was a deputy in the State Duma, Russia's parliament, for the ruling United Russia party from 2007 until 2014. She was named chair of the National Media Group's board of directors in 2014, with major holdings in propaganda-heavy channels including Channel One TV and the Life News tabloid, according to CBS News.

Russia Denies Relationship Between Putin, Kabaeva

Kabaeva's last public appearance was in December 2021, months before Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine. She made a rare public appearance last week in Moscow to attend a junior gymnastics festival, a patriotic event commemorating the Soviet Union's struggle against the Nazis during WWII.

Moscow has long denied a link between Putin and Kabaeva, and Kabaeva has denied it as well. Putin is depicted as living a religious life and committing himself to public service in Russian official media. From his former marriage, he has two known children, ages 36 and 35.

Kabaeva performed a rhythmic gymnastics performance in Moscow on Saturday, demonstrating support for the war. The United States has accused Kabaeva and her family of becoming rich from Putin's ties, and a US intelligence investigation into her 2016 elections nominated her as a beneficiary of Putin's money.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned, begged US lawmakers on April 6 to impose sanctions on Kabaeva, claiming he was helping Putin hide his money. The Ukrainian government has also called on Western countries to sanction Kabaeva and Switzerland to ban her from the countries in which she is commonly found.

Kabaeva was in Switzerland, according to the Swiss authorities. In 2008, Russian media initially revealed Putin and Kabaeva's engagement. It was shut down days later after Putin denied the story.

Since 2013, Kabaeva and her family have bought two houses, half-dozen apartments, and a number of acres of land. Kabaeva gave birth to Putin's kid in 2015 in Switzerland, according to officials from the US, Switzerland, and the European Union. The story was refuted by a Putin spokeswoman, as per Daily Mail.