The United Kingdom has made an announcement about new sanctions against the family and friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Apart from cousins as well as friends, ex-wife Lyudmila Ucheretnaya (64) and alleged girlfriend Alina Kabayeva (39) can no longer escape sanctions, as per reports.
The list of people that the UK is sanctioning because of “undying loyalty” to Putin now has over 1,000 people on it.
The UK government has stated that, “We are now tightening our grip on his inner circle once again, and will continue to do so until Ukraine triumphs.”
Ushcheretnaya was married to Putin for 30 years. Kabajeva is said to be the reason this marriage ended on the rocks – although the Kremlin has always firmly denied these rumours.
Since the very beginning of his political career, Putin has kept his private life largely out of the limelight. Just as the world knows little about his daughters Maria and Katerina, any romantic interests are also unknown at this time.
Officially, Lyudmila Otcheretnaya was Putin’s only partner. After less than two years of marriage, daughter Maria was born in April 1985, followed by Katerina in August 1986.
In the 30 years that Putin and Ushcheretnaya were married, she rarely appeared on stage.
While Putin and Ushcheretnaya may have separated, she remained one of his confidants.
According to the UK, she has “privileged business relations with Russian state-owned companies and substantial unexplained wealth,” which is why the British put her on the sanctions list.