The glamorous Russian gymnast long rumored to be Vladimir Putin’s mistress is facing sanctions from the European Union over the brutal invasion of Ukraine.
Alina Kabaeva is included in the sixth proposed package of sanctions being debated by the 27-nation consortium, according to a document obtained by Agence France-Presse.
If passed, the sanctions would freeze Kabaeva’s assets in Europe and ban her from entry to the EU.
The Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast-turned-media mogul is reported to have four children with the Russian strongman — 7-year-old twin daughters and two sons — but the two have never officially confirmed any relationship.
Kabaeva is said to be living with her children in Switzerland, which is not an EU member.
However, the famously neutral nation has matched previous EU sanctions against Russian elites.
Putin, 69, and Kabaeva, 38, have been linked since at least 2008, with the Russian leader denying media reports at the time that the two were romantically involved.
That year, Russian newspaper Moskovsky Korrespondent reported that Putin had divorced his wife, Lyudmila, and was set to marry Kabaeva. The story was immediately denied by the Kremlin and the newspaper was shut down.
The sanctions package also includes a ban on the import of Russian oil to the EU, a provision that has raised the ire of member states Slovakia and Hungary.
By the EU’s rules, the sanctions package must pass unanimously.
Kabaeva is one of the most decorated athletes in rhythmic gymnastic history, with two Olympic medals, 14 World Championship medals and 21 European Championship medals.
In 2011, she appeared on the cover of Vogue Russia.
The draft sanctions proposal identifies Kabaeva as the chair of Russia’s National Media Group, a holding company that owns significant portions of Russian state media. Kabaeva reportedly draws a $10 million salary for her role with the firm.
With additional reporting by Emily Crane and Post wires