EU to Sanction Putin's Rumored Girlfriend Alina Kabaeva

European Union (EU) is planning to sanction Alina Kabaeva, the rumored girlfriend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, for her role in Kremlin propaganda.

Kabaeva is a late addition to the list of inpiduals targeted in the sixth package of measures against Russia in response to the war in Ukraine last month. The document noted that the former gymnast and former Duma lawmaker is 'closely associated with Putin.

The Russian leader, who will be 70 this year, has since 2008 denied a relationship with Olympic gold-medal winning Kabaeva, now 38. The Moscow newspaper that first reported on their relationship closed down soon after.

In addition, the bloc is also planning to freeze the assets of Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox church, which lies in the EU.

Both of them are amongst the dozens of Russians who would face punitive measures- including travel bans-amidst the ongoing war.

Last month, the EU added Putin’s daughters to a growing list of inpiduals sanctioned to pressure Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. In like manner, the Biden administration, the UK, and Canada also imposed sanctions on Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova.