Russian president Putin and wife Lyudmila announce on TV that their marriage is over

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.'


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'.