Alina Kabaeva (left). On the 25th, reports emerged that Alina Kabaeva (37), lover of Vladimir Putin (68), President of Russia, and a former gymnast, received an annual salary of 7.7 million pounds (approximately 11.4 billion KRW) while serving as the chairman of a media company. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Alina Kabayeva (37), former gymnast and partner of Vladimir Putin (68), President of Russia, reportedly received an annual salary of ?7.7 million (approximately 11.4 billion KRW) while serving as the chairman of a media company.
On the 25th (local time), the British daily The Times cited Russian investigative media 'The Insider' and reported that Kabayeva received an annual salary of 785 million rubles (approximately 11.49 billion KRW) as the chairman of Russia's largest media company, the National Media Group.
This amount is seven times higher than the annual salary of the CEO of Gazprom, Russia's state-owned gas company.
Russian media disclosed her salary based on leaked tax payment records of Kabayeva from 2018.
Regarding this, The Times pointed out that the average annual salary of Russian citizens last year was below ?5,000 (approximately 504,000 rubles or 7.39 million KRW).
Kabayeva, who won the gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2004 Olympics, had no experience working in the media industry but was appointed chairman of the National Media Group in 2014.
The company was founded in 2008 by Yuri Kovalchuk, known as "Putin's financier." It is currently a pro-Putin media company holding exclusive rights to Russia's Netflix and is the largest media company in Russia.
Kabayeva also served as a member of parliament for the ruling party led by President Putin in the past.
The Russian media that exposed Kabayeva's salary criticized, saying, "How can a gymnast who only handled clubs and hoops become the head of Russia's largest media company?"
Meanwhile, Kabayeva first met President Putin in 2001 when she was 18 years old, and Putin divorced his ex-wife in 2013.
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