Putin's daughter flew to Munich over 50 times in 2 years to meet partner Zelensky: Report
Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughter Katerina Tikhonova, a former acrobatic dancer, is apparently in a relationship with a Munich-based ballet dancer Igor Zelensky, unrelated to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though the duo share the same surname. Putin's daughter and Igor Zelensky might also have a child. Between 2018 and 2019, Putin's daughter flew to Munich more than 50 times, a joint investigation by independent Russian media outlet iStories and German magazine Der Spiegel has revealed. Every time, Katerina flew on state chartered flights in the company of employees from Putin's own presidential security service.
Always shrouded in secrecy, Putin's personal life and family have come on the radar more after Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine that started in February.
That Putin's daughter has the record of so many trips to a European country while she might be indeed in a relationship with a dancer who stays in Munich has been criticised by the western media, given Putin's strong stance against the West.
The investigation has leaked a cache of documents relating to a series of flights between Moscow and Munich, including the passport of a then two-year-old girl, who might be the 'previously unknown granddaughter' of Putin.
Who is Igor Zelensky, the probable partner of Putin's daughter?
According to reports, Igor Zelensky is a 52-year-old dancer who was the director of the Bayerisches Staatsballet until April this year. "He stepped down from his role on 4 April citing “private family reasons”, having failed to react to calls to condemn Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine," a Guardian report said. Zelensky has a job on the supervisory board of Russia's National Cultural Heritage Foundation. "Leading a ballet troupe requires absolute concentration and efficiency. At present, however, personal, family matters require my full attention and time, which is incompatible with my activities as a ballet director in Munich…Now my family needs my support," he said at the time of his resignation, as reported by Newsweek.
Where are Putin's daughter and her partner?
The investigators said the current whereabouts of Katerina and Tikhonova are not known. Journalists went to Zelensky's Munich address but only found his ex-wife, Yana Serebriakova, a former ballet dancer.
Less time to read?
Try Quickreads
-
Stan Swamy death: US Congressman asks India to set up independent investigation
On the first anniversary of the death of Father Stan Swamy, the Jesuit priest accused in the Bhima Koregaon/Elgar Parishad case who died in custody, a United States (US) Congressman has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives commemorating Swamy's life and demanding that the Government of India set up an independent investigation into his “arrest, incarceration and death”. India has, in the past, rejected international criticism around Swamy's arrest.
-
‘I will not resign,’ says UK PM Boris Johnson | List of Tory MPs who quit govt
Amid a string of resignations, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday told a parliamentary committee that he was not going to resign, and that an election is 'the last thing the country needs'. Senior ministers of Johnson's government were reportedly geared up to ask Johnson to quit as prime minister, British media said, over the latest developments. Were Johnson to go, the process to replace him may take a couple of months.
-
India should probe Vivo according to law, not discriminate: China
China on Wednesday said it hopes India would conduct investigations into the Chinese smartphone company Vivo according to law and provide a “fair” and “non-discriminatory” business environment for Chinese firms. China is closely following developments related to the raids on the offices of Vivo in India, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, said on Wednesday when asked about the case.
-
Brazilian model, sniper killed in Russian military strike in Ukraine: Report
A Brazilian model who had joined the Ukrainian army and trained as a sniper to help fight against invading Russian forces has been killed in combat, according to media reports. Thalita also took part in humanitarian missions and fought the Islamic State in Iraq, according to a report by the Daily Mail. Ex-Brazilian soldier Douglas Burigo, 40, who returned to find Thalita was the only soldier left after the first strike took place, British publication Daily Mail claimed.
-
Beijing announces first vaccine mandate as Omicron clusters break out in China
China's capital Beijing will introduce a vaccine mandate for certain public venues from July 11, the first in the country, as millions in China face new curbs and the country tackles fresh Covid-19 clusters including a karaoke lounge-related outbreak in Shanghai and a spreading one in the tourist city of Xian. Restaurants and public transport are exempt. Those who have health problems and cannot be vaccinated are exempt from the mandate.
