The former Russian gymnast

Alina Kabaeva has been sanctioned by the British government.

Secretary of State Liz Truss confirmed: "We are exposing and fighting the dirty network surrounding Putin's luxurious lifestyle and tightening the vise around his inner circle."

Alexander Davydov

sports editor.

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The new sanctions target the president's family and friends in response to Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.

"Putin relies on his network of family, childhood friends and a select elite who benefit from his rule and in return support his life purpose," the British government said in a statement.

Action will be taken against this as long as the invasion lasts.

The 39-year-old Kabaeva, multiple European and world champion as well as Olympic champion, is one of the most successful gymnasts in the country.

According to media reports, she is said to be the lover of the Russian President and has several children with him.

The American news channel CBS calls her Russia's "secret First Lady".

The Kremlin denies the relationship.

Kabaeva caused a stir in 2001 because of a doping offense and subsequent one-year ban.

After retiring from sport, she sat in parliament for seven years for Putin's United Russia party.

In 2014, she resigned her mandate and became head of the Kremlin-affiliated National Media Group at the age of just 31.

The British government accuses Kabaeva of actively promoting Russian propaganda regarding the invasion in this capacity.

As the BBC reports, at Putin's request, shortly after the war began, the National Media Group removed all links to Kabaeva from its website to hide her activities there.