Putin denies romance reports, Moscow paper shut

By Dmitry Solovyov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Moscow newspaper that reported Vladimir Putin had divorced his wife and planned to marry an Olympic gymnast was closed by its publishers on Friday, just hours after the Russian president angrily denied the report.

Moskovsky Korrespondent said last week Putin had secretly divorced his 50-year-old wife, Lyudmila, and would wed Alina Kabayeva, a 24-year-old Olympic gold medalist in rhythmic gymnastics, in the summer.

The 55-year-old Kremlin leader reacted furiously when asked about the report at a news briefing in Sardinia with Italian prime minister-elect, Silvio Berlusconi.

"There is not one word of truth in what you have said," he told the journalist who asked the question.

"I have always reacted negatively to those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others' lives," the former KGB spy said.

Until the news briefing in Italy, most of the Russian media had not touched the story in Moskovsky Korrespondent, a racy tabloid owned by pro-government deputy Alexander Lebedev.

The newspaper quoted society sources as saying plans were being laid in St Petersburg, Putin's home town, for a lavish summer wedding.

On Friday it at first defended its story and said editorial staff did not intend to apologize "despite pressure from people linked to the owner of the paper".

Igor Dudinsky, deputy editor-in-chief, told Reuters: "We stand by our story -- we had information and we reported it."

But after Putin spoke, publisher National Media Company said it had suspended publication until it had found "a new concept" for the title.

Editor-in-chief Grigory Nekhoroshev had resigned, Interfax news agency reported.

Artyom Artyomov, head of the National Media Company, was quoted by Interfax as saying the move had nothing to do with the reported romance.

"There is no question of any political background behind the decision to suspend the newspaper's publication," he said.

"We will decide on a new concept for the newspaper and a business plan for its development in the near future.

The newspaper's website www.moscor.ru was also abruptly switched off on Friday night.