Vladimir Putin allegedly engaged in extramarital affairs with an underage beauty pageant contestant while in a long-term relationship with Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva. Russian journalists revealed that Putin, then 58, reportedly seduced 17-year-old school leaver Alisa Kharcheva when Kabaeva was not around. Kharcheva even participated in a provocative calendar created to celebrate Putin’s birthday, organized by the Nashi youth movement to curry favor with the Russian leader.
The calendar featured Kharcheva as Miss April, which caught Putin’s attention. Descriptions of their relationship suggest a significant connection between Putin and Kharcheva. The calendar, along with the girls’ contact details, was sent to the Kremlin, leading to Kharcheva meeting Putin at his suburban residence. Their intimate relationship reportedly began during Kabaeva’s absences.
After publicly announcing his divorce from his wife of 30 years in 2013, Putin allegedly continued to see Kharcheva regularly. Although her role as Putin’s lover was not publicly acknowledged, she appeared on TV and participated in the Miss Russia contest, where she made it to the final rounds. The Nashi organization attempted to leverage Kharcheva’s relationship with Putin for influence, likening her to Madame de Pompadour.
Despite the attempts to exploit the affair for political gain, there is no evidence that any initiatives proposed by Kharcheva were implemented, and it may have even irritated Putin. Eventually, Putin ceased inviting Kharcheva, but reports suggest he provided benefits to her family, including a job for her sportsman father, admission to a prestigious institute, and a luxury apartment in Moscow. When questioned about her ties to Putin, Kharcheva neither confirmed nor denied the claims.
Kharcheva now co-owns a successful chain of tanning studios. These revelations come after a book alleging Putin’s preference for non-traditional relationships, contrasting with his public stance on marriage. Putin has emphasized the privacy of his personal life, criticizing intrusion by others into his affairs.
