Russia is abuzz with rumors about the love life of its former first lady, Lydmilla Putina, amid reports the 58-year-old ex-wife of the Russian President may have secretly remarried.
According to an investigation by an independent Russian-language news magazine, “Sobesednik,” or “Interlocutor,” the former Mrs. Putina appears to have changed her name on official records to Lydmilla Ocheretnaya.
Under the headline “Lydmilla is No Longer Putin,” the magazine says she has apparently adopted the surname of a 37-year-old businessman, Artur Ocheretny — more than 20 years her junior — with whom she has been photographed in recent months.
There is no confirmation of the union as marriage certificates are not public in Russia.
The Kremlin has refused to comment on the reports, with Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, reminding state media that “Vladimir and Lydmilla are divorced” and that “consequently, I am not in a position to say anything about Lydmilla or her personal life.”
Putin and his wife announced their divorce, after more than 30 years of marriage, on television in July 2013, after they attended a ballet performance.
Since then, the former first lady has kept an extremely low public profile, even sparking rumors that the former Aeroflot stewardess had joined an Orthodox convent to seek solace.
Details about Vladimir Putin’s family and personal life are closely guarded by the Kremlin, with even the whereabouts of his two grown-up children generally unknown to the public.
Speculation has also been rife about Putin’s own relationship with a 32-year-old former Olympic gymnast, Alina Kabaeva.
Last year, the Kremlin was forced to deny reports that the Russian President, 63, had fathered children with her.
