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Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife, Lyudmila, have announced today that they have separated and their marriage is over.

The 60-year-old and his 55-year-old wife broke the news of the end of the 29-year marriage on television. 

Asked on Rossiya-24 television about longstanding rumours that they no longer lived together, the 60-year-old Putin said: 'That is true.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and his wife Lyudmila, seen in March last year

 

Putin announces divorce

Putin, 60, and 55-year-old wife announce that their 29-year marriage is over

Wife Lyudmila has rarely been seen with the President in recent months

Pair are 'eternally close' and support each other through 'civilised divorce'

Lyudmila 'did not like publicity' and Putin said they never saw each other

Lyudmila Putin said it had been a 'our common decision. And our marriage is over due to the fact that we barely see each other.'

Asked whether they were divorced, Lyudmila said it was a 'civilised divorce'.

But neither clarified whether they were legally divorced and Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said he did not know.

The couple had last been seen in public together at Putin's inauguration to his third presidential term on May 7, 2012.

Married just a few weeks short of 30 years, the Putins announced the decision on state television after attending a ballet performance Thursday evening in the Kremlin. 

In April speculation was mounting as to why the first lady of Russia was rarely seen by his side

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2337048/Russian-president-Putin-wife-Lyudmila-announce-TV-marriage-over.html#ixzz2VU033o6E