SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 07: Russian President Vladamir Putin attends a press conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) on September 7, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. Economic leaders from 21 nations are meeting in Sydney during the week long summit. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 07: Russian President Vladamir Putin attends a press conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) on September 7, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. Economic leaders from 21 nations are meeting in Sydney during the week long summit. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
The tenth annual Brics summit has got underway in South Africa, with Vladimir Putin and his Russian delegation landing in Joburg on Thursday.
He will join Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as the heads of state from Brazil, India and China for multi-lateral talks between the five countries. Cyril might even be tempted to twist his arm over South Africa’s foreign investment drive.
However, when Putin touches down in SA, he won’t be accompanied by a first lady. Earlier this week, we saw Peng Liyuan – the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping – embark on a diplomatic mission with Dr Tshepo Motsepe, the South African first lady.
Yet there’ll be no Russian spouse for her to meet with this week.
Does Russia have a first lady?
At the moment, they don’t. The position of first lady is usually occupied by the president’s wife, or in some cases, daughter. The role has been vacant for nearly five years.
So does Vladimir Putin have a wife?
During his first spell as Russian president, Vladimir Putin was married to his wife Lyudmila. She served her diplomatic duties from 2000 – 2008, and again from 2012-13 when Vlad was re-elected to the leadership.
However, the pair divorced back in 2013. Solemnly addressing the nation on TV, Putin revealed “it was a joint decision” and that they “hardly saw each other” due to work commitments. They had been together for more than 30 years.
Does Putin have any daughters who could be first lady?
He has two daughters, Maria and Katerina. Not much is known about Maria but Katerina has a major role in the public expansion of Moscow’s state university. She and husband Kirill Shamalov have an estimated net worth of $2 billion.
So she’s got the corporate nous and experience of working on state projects. Yet she’s never made the move into the family business of diplomacy. It seems while the going is good, neither Maria or Katerina would make the step up.
Could a new love interest of Putin’s do the job?
The Kremlin refused to confirm speculation that Putin has a girlfriend 30 years his junior. Alina Kabaeva – a classically-trained dancer and gymnast – has been romantically linked to the president over and over again.
She could assume the duties of first lady without getting married to Putin. But, if there is anything to these rumours, it seems Kabaeva is happy to stay in the shadows.
