Putin denies romance reports, Moscow paper shut

PROTECTED FAMILY

Putin, who steps down as president in May, married Lyudmila, a former Aeroflot air hostess, in 1983 and they have two daughters who are both in their twenties.

A fan of theatre, music and winter sports, Lyudmila has at times looked uncomfortable with her official role.

Putin has so far kept his private life out of the media and reports about his family are very rare in the Russian press, which carefully follows Kremlin guidance.

Putin said media had linked him to a host of women including Kabayeva and Russian television journalist Yekaterina Andreyeva.

"In other such publications other successful, beautiful young women and girls have been mentioned. I don't think it will be a surprise if I say that I like them all -- because they are all Russian women," Putin said with a smile.

Kabayeva, whose website www.alinakabaeva.narod.ru proclaims her "the most magnificent gymnast in the world", was born in Uzbekistan. She won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens for rhythmic gymnastics.

A spokeswoman for Kabayeva said of reports of her relations with Putin: "It is rubbish, all complete rubbish. Alina is not going to comment on the rubbish published by the tabloid press."

Recruited into Putin's United Russia in a drive to add glamour to the ruling party, Kabayeva was elected a deputy in the State Duma, parliament's lower house, last December, although she is not often seen there.

According to her website, Kabayeva lists collecting cuddly toys among her hobbies.

(Writing by Richard Balmforth, edited by Richard Meares)