MOSCOW, June 7 (RIA Novosti) – A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday dismissed as “rumors” reports that the head of state’s recently announced divorce would clear the way for a new marriage.
In a radio interview, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that there was no other woman in Putin’s life, and that any other information was nothing more than “gossip, hearsay and assumptions.”
“It is enough to just take a look at Putin’s work schedule to understand that his life, perhaps unfortunately, has little relation to any type of family ties. It is centered solely around the duties [and] the responsibility that he bears as the head of state,” Peskov said on Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) radio.
He added that he had no information about the future plans of Putin’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Lyudmila, and suggested that the media “stay out of her personal life.”
The couple announced Thursday on national television that they were ending their marriage, saying the reason for their split was the president’s work, which consumes most of his time and requires a very public life.
The announcement put an end to years of speculation about the strength of their marriage, fueled by the first lady’s increasingly rare public appearances over the past five years.