UK sanctions Putin circle including alleged girlfriend

The UK sanctioned 12 members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “close circle,” including his reputed girlfriend, on Friday, accusing them of concealing tens of billions of dollars on his behalf.

Putin’s ex-wife Lyudmila Ocheretnaya and Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gymnast described as his “present companion” by UK officials, were among those named, as was Kabaeva’s grandmother Anna Zatseplina.

The European Union has proposed sanctioning Kabaeva, according to a document seen last week by AFP. She is said by Western governments to be the mother of at least three of his children.

But the US government has held off targeting her, for fear of worsening hostilities with Putin, according to a report last month by the Wall Street Journal.

“We are exposing and targeting the shady network propping up Putin’s luxury lifestyle and tightening the vice on his inner circle,” British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement.

“We will keep going with sanctions on all those aiding and abetting Putin’s aggression until Ukraine prevails.”

The Kremlin leader’s modest state salary and officially declared assets are belied by reports linking him to a luxury yacht and a sprawling property dubbed “Putin’s Palace”, the UK statement said.

His true wealth is hidden by a network of family, childhood friends and members of the Russian elite who have been appointed to powerful roles “in return for their undying loyalty”.

“These are people who deliberately lurk in the shadows to help Putin hide away his wealth,” a UK official told reporters, on condition of anonymity.

Kabaeva chairs Russia’s National Media Group. The previously sanctioned Bank Rossiya owns one-third of the group and is a “clear channel” for Putin’s money, the official said.

Igor Putin, the Russian leader’s first cousin, and Roman Putin, a first cousin once removed, were also among those targeted in the UK sanctions.

So was Alexander Plekhov, a “close friend” who controls the Vital Development Corp.

“We’ve identified tens of billions in assets” linked to Putin’s inner circle, the UK official said.

Britain said it had now sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and 100 entities, including oligarchs worth more than $140 billion, since Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in late February.

The UK has already targeted “almost all of the individuals and businesses that have been judged as being closest to him,” according to the official, “but of course we will keep continuing.”

“The hit-list has certainly not finished yet.”