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Russia's Vladimir Putin and wife Lyudmila divorce | Russia's Vladimir Putin and wife Lyudmila divorce |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila have said their marriage is over. | Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila have said their marriage is over. |
The couple, who had been married for 30 years, made their divorce public on Russian state television after attending a ballet performance. | The couple, who had been married for 30 years, made their divorce public on Russian state television after attending a ballet performance. |
"It was a joint decision: we hardly see each other, each of us has our own life", Mr Putin said. | "It was a joint decision: we hardly see each other, each of us has our own life", Mr Putin said. |
Mrs Putin had rarely been seen in public in recent months, prompting much speculation in Russian media. | Mrs Putin had rarely been seen in public in recent months, prompting much speculation in Russian media. |
She is known to dislike publicity, and told the TV reporter that flying was difficult for her. "Vladimir Vladimirovich is completely drowned in work," she said. | |
The divorce was "civilised" and the couple would "always remain close", she said. | The divorce was "civilised" and the couple would "always remain close", she said. |
"I am very grateful to Vladimir... that he still supports me. And the children, he really cares for them and the children feel this," she added. | "I am very grateful to Vladimir... that he still supports me. And the children, he really cares for them and the children feel this," she added. |
Mr Putin confirmed on TV that the two were no longer living together. | Mr Putin confirmed on TV that the two were no longer living together. |
"We are always going to be very close to each other. I am sure, forever," he said. | |
Vladimir Putin and Lyudmila Shkrebneva were married in 1983. They have two daughters, Maria and Yekaterina, both in their 20s. | Vladimir Putin and Lyudmila Shkrebneva were married in 1983. They have two daughters, Maria and Yekaterina, both in their 20s. |
"Our children have grown up; they have their own lives," Mrs Putin added. | "Our children have grown up; they have their own lives," Mrs Putin added. |
She and Mr Putin were last seen together at his inauguration for his third term as president on 7 May 2012. | She and Mr Putin were last seen together at his inauguration for his third term as president on 7 May 2012. |
Remarriage? | |
Neither clarified whether or not their marriage had been legally dissolved, but Mrs Putin referred to the separation as a "civilised divorce". | |
The announcement came after the couple had gone to see the ballet Esmeralda at the Kremlin Palace - they left after the first act. | The announcement came after the couple had gone to see the ballet Esmeralda at the Kremlin Palace - they left after the first act. |
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says that Thursday's announcement confirms what had been rumoured for years, that the Putins were having marital problems. | The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says that Thursday's announcement confirms what had been rumoured for years, that the Putins were having marital problems. |
But the news has still come as a shock to many Russians, who are not used to their leaders getting divorced - even though Russia has one of the highest divorce rates in the world, our correspondent adds. | |
The question already dominating the Russian blogosphere is, "will Russia's president marry again?", he says. | |
The Putins' marriage had been the subject of speculation before. | |
In 2008, Mr Putin denied rumours that he had secretly divorced and was planning to marry former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva. |