RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila announced their divorce Thursday after nearly 30 years of marriage.
The Putins made the statement on state television after attending a ballet performance at the Kremlin.
โIt was our joint decision,โ Putin said.
Lyudmila Putin was rarely seen in public during her husbandโs long tenure at the top of Russian politics.
โI donโt like publicity and flying is difficult for me,โ she said.
The Putins married on July 28, 1983 and have two daughters, Maria and Yekaterina. In the televised announcement of their divorce, Putin appeared reserved and Lyudmila smiled tentatively.
โWe practically never saw each other. To each his own life,โ Putin said.
Lyudmila Putin said, โWe will eternally be very close people. Iโm thankful to Vladimir Vladimirovich that he supports me.โ
