Russia's Putin and wife say their marriage is over

Russia's Putin and wife say their marriage is over

Lyudmila, told Russians on Thursday that their 30-year marriage was over, confirming longstanding speculation that they had separated.

In a rare appearance together on state television, Putin was asked about rumors that they no longer lived together and answered: "That is true."



The announcement removes a big question mark about the private life of a president who has increasingly touted traditional values and championed the conservative Russian Orthodox Church as a moral authority.

Politically, Putin may have calculated that it was better to be seen coming clean about a separation many Russians have long taken as fact than to be suspected of hiding the truth or living a secret second life.

The couple looked nervous as they stood side by side in the Kremlin, speaking to a lone reporter. They referred to each other formally by first name and patronymic, adding a respectful but uncomfortable touch.

Putin smiled woodenly and nodded as Lyudmila spoke, though they both appeared more relaxed after making the announcement.

Lyudmila, a former airline stewardess five years younger than the 60-year-old president, said it had been "our common decision".

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/06/us-russia-putin-marraige-idUSBRE95514A20130606

What the Papers Say, June 7, 2013
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/what-the-papers-say-june-7-2013/481301.html

Putin divorce: President and wife say 'their marriage is over'
http://rt.com/news/president-putin-marriage-over-341/

Within hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila announced their divorce on state television on June 6, jokes about their separation became a big hit on social media, particularly on the microblogging site Twitter. RFE/RL’s Central Newsroom has compiled a selection of some of the more notable tweets and comments.

1) "According to the law Lyudmila Putina now will get half of Russia," read one popular tweet, playing on the widely held belief that the Kremlin leader has appropriated the country’s wealth.

http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-humor-putin-lyudmila-divorce/25010301.html