Ukraine: Brussels proposes to sanction former gymnast Alina Kabaeva

Former Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva attends the senior event of the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Turin on June 6, 2008. AFP - GIUSEPPE CACACE

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The European Union has proposed sanctioning former Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva for her role in 

Kremlin "

 to President Vladimir Putin.

She is part of a new list of personalities threatened with a ban on entry into the EU and an asset freeze, as part of a sixth package of European sanctions currently under discussion.

According to some media, Alina Kabaeva has been the mistress of the head of the Kremlin for years, and even the mother of several of his children, an allegation never confirmed by the Russian authorities. 

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Former gymnast - Olympic champion in 2004 and double world champion, five-time European champion and six-time Russian champion - Alina Kabaeva was elected deputy of Vladimir Putin's party, United Russia, in 2007. 

Alina Kabaeva is today at the head of the Board of Directors of the largest Russian media group.

For this function, she receives the modest sum of 10 million dollars.

And it is precisely as the head of important “

” media that Alina Kabaeva is targeted by European sanctions.

The United States has so far been reluctant to blacklist him precisely because of his alleged links to the Kremlin leader.

Russian and Western media have been talking about a romantic affair between the two for years, without being able to provide proof.

In 2008, a Russian newspaper had to officially apologize for claiming that Vladimir Putin wanted to marry Alina Kabaeva.

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While the ex-wife of the Russian president, as well as his two daughters, have been sanctioned by Washington, his alleged mistress has escaped it so far.

According to the

, the American authorities were afraid that Vladimir Putin would take this measure "

".

A concern that Europeans obviously do not seem to share. 

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