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Former champion Alina Kabayeva pictured in 2008. AP/Press Association Images

Rumours swirl of Vladimir Putin baby with ex-Russian gymnast

A spokesperson has denied the rumours.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR Vladimir Putin has denied rumours swirling in the European media that a baby has been born to the Russian leader.

Several news outlets reported that former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva has given birth to Putin’s child. Kabayeva and Putin have been romantically linked with one another.

A Swiss newspaper claims Putin was in Lugano for the birth of the child.

The birth is being given as a possible explanation for the leader’s unusual absence that has sent the Russian rumour mill into overdrive.

It’s been denied however by a Putin representative.

“Information that a child has been born to Vladimir Putin is not true,” Dmitry Peskov told Forbes Russia.

“I am planning to appeal to people who have money to organise a competition for the best journalistic hoax,” he added.

The Russian Twittersphere has been alive with speculation over the whereabouts of the typically omnipresent 62-year-old, after he cancelled several meetings this week.

Russian state-media aired footage of Putin meeting at his residence outside Moscow with the head of the country’s supreme court Friday in a sign that it was business as usual.

Putin was last seen in person on 5 March at a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and footage of him released by the Kremlin since then has been claimed to be dated.

Speculation earlier this week had focused on the leader’s possible ill-health, which Peskov denied.

“There’s no need to worry, he’s absolutely healthy,” Peskov told Echo of Moscow radio station on Thursday.

He said Putin was busy with Russia’s economic crisis and has “meetings constantly, but not all meetings are public.”

Asked if Putin’s handshake remains firm, Peskov laughed and said: “It breaks your hand.”

“As soon as the sun comes out… and it starts smelling of spring, people start getting delusions,” Peskov told TASS agency.

The rumours come as Putin’s approval rating hit 88%, a record high in his 15-year rule, TASS reported Friday citing figures from a state-controlled polling agency.

Putin’s popularity has soared since Russia’s annexation of the Black Sea Crimea peninsula a year ago.

© – AFP 2015 with reporting from Rónán Duffy

Read: Kremlin: Putin’s not ill, he could break your hand if he wanted to >

Read: Two arrested over Boris Nemtsov killing >

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    Mute Phil O' Meara
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:42 PM

    Ex-Russian gymnast or Russian ex-gymnast?

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:54 PM

    I’m not choosy…either way sounds ok.

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    Mute TheDoctor
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:43 PM

    Actually Both apply.

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    Mute Stephen Wallis
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    Mar 14th 2015, 8:14 AM

    Unless she’s changed her nationality/citizenship, she’s a Russian ex-gymnast. The way the headline is written, she used to be Russian and used to be a gymnast.

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    Mute Jay Toner
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:37 PM

    Fair play to Vlad, can’t imagine Kenny or Cameron having such luck

    184
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    Mute John R
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    Mar 13th 2015, 11:13 PM

    Yes Jay he takes after good old Vlad the Impaler. A legendary figure indeed.

    13
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    Mute Symbolism
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:39 PM

    Were they at it hammer and sickle

    178
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    Mute Alan Cooke
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:35 PM

    I would not mind vaulting her box!

    148
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    Mute Stephen Moran
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:28 PM

    I’ll give her another if she fancies it.

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    Mute Tom Red
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:24 PM

    I always thought Putin was playing for the other team…….

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Mar 13th 2015, 9:03 PM

    I always assumed the same Tom.

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    Mute William Willis
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    Mar 14th 2015, 2:17 AM

    I reckon so too. Maybe this rumour is to counter the rumour that he bats for the other team.

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    Mute Clark Griswold
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:26 PM

    I suggest Patrick if its a boy and Patricia if its a girl!

    126
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    Mute Colin Moran
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:25 PM

    Maybe Putin did Put In?

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    Mute Laura Leslie
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:01 PM

    Well we know he doesn’t pull out of anywhere

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    Mute Colin Moran
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:26 PM

    Genius!

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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:51 PM

    Your one’s rockin’ a bit of a uni-brow.

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    Mute archie bald henry
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:39 PM

    Alina Kabayeva v’s Michelle Obama, Putin wins again

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    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:31 PM

    other rumours on Russian social media is that he has bruising following botox/cosmetic surgery

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    Mute rupertl
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:50 PM

    They called him Damien, he was born at 6hr 6mins 6sec on Friday the 13th. Frank where are you.

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    Mute Ron North
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    Mar 13th 2015, 9:55 PM

    #prayforfrank #teamfrank

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    Mute james gaffey
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:18 PM

    Vlad the Impaler

    37
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    Mute Caitríona
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:37 PM

    Cannot imagine Vladimir Putin changing poopy nappies!!!

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    Mute Business Cat
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    Mar 13th 2015, 9:32 PM

    He stares at the poop until it goes back in.

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    Mute Joe Simpson
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    Mar 14th 2015, 12:56 AM

    well he already has children

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    Mute Patrick J O'CONNOR
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:05 PM

    Look closer at Putin. Putin looks awful uptight.Does he really like ladies- or is it all a Puton!

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:34 PM

    As a gay man I can safely say he is gayer then I am. Well apart from the fact I’m out and he is so far in the closet that he feels that he has to persecute his fell lgbt people to divert attention from himself. Ya no what they say the lady dose protest to much.

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    Mute gerard devany
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    Mar 14th 2015, 10:40 AM

    James Joseph
    Ah, sure your just jealous he’s not gay, your probably a closet hetro anyway, when are you coming out ?

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:53 PM

    Natal is looking into reports of Putin’s soldiers penetrating the border sometime in July ’14.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:23 PM

    It would explain his sudden disappearance.

    17
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    Mute Charles McDonald
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:01 PM

    To be fair to him. She is hot

    95
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    Mute I Pee Freely
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    Mar 13th 2015, 9:16 PM

    “He has denied the rumours” well that’s that sorted then case closed.

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    Mute William Willis
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    Mar 14th 2015, 3:00 AM

    She struggles with the mono-brow. But hey, it ok.

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    Mute Glen
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:02 PM

    Also rumours going around he had a stroke. Yesterday the rumours were that he died.

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    Mute dublinlad
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    Mar 14th 2015, 7:00 AM

    Glen, it’s great news that you now have a sibling to play with.

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    Mute Caitríona
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    Mar 13th 2015, 10:18 PM

    It’s going to be the mono-browed evil baby from The Simpsons.

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:54 PM

    They obviously played Russian roulette a little too often….

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    Mute Thomas Ward
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    Mar 13th 2015, 10:10 PM

    Vlad the lad!

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    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:46 PM

    Someone’s gonna get shot!

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    Mute Qwerty
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:03 PM

    Eircodes are great.

    8
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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:36 PM

    Alina Kabayeva or the Baby?

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    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
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    Mar 14th 2015, 6:54 PM

    Oh no they’re not!!!

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:40 PM

    Maybe be he went hunting again and fell out with a bear or maybe Godzilla has been born…..

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    Mute The Dublin Cynic
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:46 PM

    Another shooter on the way

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    Mute Brian Nagle
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    Mar 13th 2015, 10:13 PM

    Some kids have no luck

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    Mute Petr Safronov
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    Mar 14th 2015, 10:14 PM

    Under his nose the log does not see and under strange and straws to see

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    Mute Petr Safronov
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    Mar 14th 2015, 10:13 PM

    Yes looks that you’re all Mahi and nuns.

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    Mute Petr Safronov
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    Mar 14th 2015, 10:05 PM

    Guys you talking about news which is out of date.

    1
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