Russia Declares Journalist Wanted After Exposing Putin's Alleged Secret Life
Russian investigative journalist Roman Badanin, a prominent Kremlin critic, has been officially declared "wanted" by Moscow authorities after publishing explosive claims about Vladimir Putin's personal life. The 49-year-old editor, now living in foreign exile, appeared on the Russian Interior Ministry's wanted list, though the specific charges against him remain unspecified according to reports from Mediazona outlet.
Bombshell Allegations About Putin's Personal Relationships
Badanin, who serves as chief editor of investigative publications Proekt and Agentsvo, has built a reputation for exposing what he claims are carefully hidden aspects of Putin's private life. In his recent book 'The Tsar in Person. How Vladimir Putin Fooled Us All', co-authored with Mikhail Rubin, Badanin presents a stark contrast between Putin's public advocacy for traditional family values and what he describes as the Russian leader's personal preference for "free" relationships.
The journalist claims Putin, 73, has engaged in relationships with "a multitude of women," many significantly younger than himself. These allegations include detailed accounts of Putin's alleged involvement with several women from Russia's elite circles, creating what Badanin describes as persistent rumors circulating among both political insiders and broader Russian society.
Specific Claims About Secret Relationships and Children
Among the most sensational claims is Badanin's assertion about Putin's relationship with former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, who is three decades younger than the Russian president. The book reveals photographs of two boys allegedly fathered by Putin with Kabaeva - Ivan, 11, and Vladimir, six - who reportedly use the fake surname 'Spiridonov'. These children have never been officially acknowledged by the Kremlin or shown publicly to the Russian people.
Badanin further alleges that Putin "personally" paid for luxury Moscow apartments from his secret fortune not only for Kabaeva but for three other well-known gymnasts who were her colleagues on the Russian national team. The book suggests this demonstrated Putin's desire "to make pleasant to a whole group of young women," though the exact nature of these relationships remains ambiguous.
Additional Controversial Relationships Revealed
The investigative work also details an alleged earlier extramarital affair between Putin and Svetlana Krivonogikh, a former cleaner who became a multimillionaire. Badanin claims this relationship resulted in the birth of a secret love child named Luiza Rozova (Krivonogikh), now 22, who reportedly divides her time between Paris and Russia.
Perhaps most controversially, Badanin describes Putin's alleged involvement with underage student Alisa Kharcheva, who was 17 when she posed for a calendar for Putin's 58th birthday. The book states: "What went on in the Kremlin's alcoves between a 58-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl only they know." Two years later, Kharcheva posted a provocative photograph titled 'P*ssy for Putin' featuring her wearing a dress with a plunging neckline alongside a cat.
Broader Pattern Among Putin's Inner Circle
Badanin's book extends beyond Putin's personal conduct to describe what he claims is a broader pattern within the Russian leader's inner circle. According to the journalist, deputies, ministers, and other political insiders have privately confirmed numerous sexual connections involving Putin with various women including models, sportswomen, ballerinas, and journalists.
The publication presents a stark dichotomy between Putin's public promotion of traditional family values and what Badanin describes as the private reality where marriage is viewed as "a completely non-obligatory institution" within Putin's circle. The book claims that "to have mistresses, to resort to the services of sex-escort or to start intimate flings with subordinates, became general practice among people of Putin's circle."
Personal Background and Previous Targeting
Badanin's investigative work has previously drawn the Kremlin's ire. In July 2021, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he was officially labelled a "foreign agent" while his publication Proekt was declared an "undesirable" organization. Authorities issued orders to censor reports about individuals linked to Putin and their wealth.
Beyond his reporting on Putin's personal life, Badanin's outlets have also published rumors about the Russian leader's health, including his alleged habit of surrounding himself with doctors. The journalist has even revealed disturbing claims about Putin's family background, alleging that Putin's father gouged out his mother's eye with a pitchfork "in a fit of rage" when she was just 17 years old, leading to their forced marriage.
The Kremlin has maintained a "strict ban" on questions about Alina Kabaeva and her role in Putin's life, according to Badanin's reporting. This latest development of Badanin appearing on Russia's wanted list represents an escalation in the ongoing conflict between independent journalists and Russian authorities over reporting on the personal lives of the country's political elite.
