当前位置： Language Tips> VOA听力> Normal Speed News VOA常速

Russia's Putin and Wife Announce Split

2013-06-08 13:45

分享到

After much speculation over the past years, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila have said their 30-year marriage is over. The couple made their split public on Russian state television after attending a ballet performance.

She was rarely seen in public in recent years, but Lyudmila was at her husband's side when he announced they are no longer living together.

"Yes, it's true. All my activities, all my work is very public. Some people like it. Some don't. But there are people who are absolutely incompatible with that. Lyudmila Alexandrovna has been on duty for the last eight or nine years, already. So that is a mutual decision," said Putin.

Mrs. Putin is known to dislike publicity, and her absence prompted speculation in the Russian media. While neither clarified whether or not their marriage has been legally dissolved, she referred to the separation as a "civilized divorce."

During Putin's first presidential term between 2000 and 2004, he took his wife on several foreign trips. But by his second term, he was traveling solo.

By 2008, rumors that he was about to divorce his wife also claimed he would marry the former competitive gymnast Alina Kabayeva. Mr. Putin publicly denied it.

On the streets of Moscow, people were not surprised at the news:

“I think as long as it doesn’t influence how our president takes care of the issues that affect our citizens, so let it be. Let him be happy,” said Marina, a school teacher.

“It’s his private life and he has the right to do with it what he wants. Maybe we can say that he destroyed his wife’s destiny, but Vladimir Vladimirovich is also a person, and he also must live his life. He did what he thought was right. That’s my opinion,” said Denis Nazorov, a biologist.

The Putins married in 1983 and have two daughters, both in their twenties, who are rarely seen in public. The announcement comes 13 months into Mr. Putin's third presidential term.

Demand Grows for Global Ban on 'Killer Robots'

International Survey Shows Habits of Happy Couples

Listeners Tell Their Favorite Proverbs

（来源：VOA 编辑：Julie）

上一篇 : Demand Grows for Global Ban on 'Killer Robots'
下一篇 : Best of Broadway to be Honored Sunday

分享到

中国日报网英语点津版权说明：凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津：XXX（署名）”的原创作品，除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外，其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用，违者必究。如需使用，请与010-84883561联系；凡本网注明“来源：XXX（非英语点津）”的作品，均转载自其它媒体，目的在于传播更多信息，其他媒体如需转载，请与稿件来源方联系，如产生任何问题与本网无关；本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段，版权归原作者所有，仅供学习与研究，如果侵权，请提供版权证明，以便尽快删除。