This begs all sorts of questions, including: 1. Has Russia regressed to the point where Kremlin pressure no longer has to be active, but is merely understood? 2. Why don’t we have more rhythmic gymnasts in the House? 3. Didn’t Putin notice that this sort of thing did wonders for Sarkozy?

A RUSSIAN newspaper suspended after claiming that President Vladimir Putin is to marry an ex-Olympic gymnast promised today to come back – minus the political coverage.The senior executive at Moskovsky Korrespondent, Artyom Artyomov, confirmed to AFP that the daily tabloid was suspended, missing its weekend issue, and that editor in chief Grigory Nekhoroshev had been fired.
However, he denied this was due to Kremlin pressure.
“No one called to demand this. I have my own responsibility and I saw the story about Putin’s divorce that we published was not sufficiently verified,” Artyomov said.
Moskovsky Korrespondent broke a major taboo in Russian media last month by running a story about Putin’s private life, writing that he had divorced his wife Lyudmila Putina and was to marry a 24-year-old former rhythmic gymnast, who also sits in the lower house of parliament.
Putin dismissed the rumour Friday and attacked the “snotty noses” and “erotic fantasies” of those prying into his affairs.
Russian newspapers almost never write about Putin’s personal life, while details about his wife and two daughters are barely mentioned. Television is even more strictly controlled.