I wonder why Putin is so blatlantly and vicously attacked these last months on a personal level. There have been so many mean rumours: First the affair with Alina,then a secret son, then his wife is a nun,then he's done surgery,and now this marriage story. The rumours about his daughters marriage is also a classic: It was reported some years ago that they married in greece, and then that they live in germany, and now that they study in the US and will marry in Korea! I really think all of this is done to hurt him personally and professionally. It should be hard for him to read all this trash about him and his family.

It seems to me that the supposed perfect alliance between the Russian Primer Minister and the President is not what we are told. The capitalist industrial Russian managers have adopted the western way to do business. Big companies like Gazprom (where Medvedev's brother is a VIP) like it that way. So knowing how popular is Mr Putin in Russia and also all over the World, those peoples have to find way to destabilize him before 2012. If my suppositions are correct, Mr Putin should declare his intention to be candidate as soon as possible and the actual Russian president will have just to go back to Gazprom. In my personal opinion, he looks to much like ou "clown" Sarkonaparte. Bests Regards...JCM

@ Mark, some of the attention is sort of a compliment, because Putin fascinates so many people. But all politicians get trashed in the press, and if there are pictures of their families available, then the families get it too. In USA, Obama's wife is getting it now, and Bush and Clinton used to get dirt flung at their families. There are enough people who love tabloid fodder and therefore it is profitable. In addition to that, Putin seems to still be in a propaganda war with some news outlets who keep telling us what a dictator he is. It is a small step to then gossip about his family in an "editorial".

Discrediting Mr Vladimir Putin personally is one of the key strategies to weakening his strong popularity . however, Russia needs Putin at least in the next ten years.. Putin is very smart in killing these false rumors quickly. The "botox" use is a clever way of hinting that he is an old man—Putin is 58 at the prime of his life.. Putin is smart, savvy and good for Russia

sorry, but isn't it typical korean hype, we chinese have experienced so lot..? it's typical behavior..caused anti korean sentiment in east asia.. but the behavior is new to the outside world.

There is no smoke without fire. I think the Korean report on Mr. Putin's prospective groom might be true, for this guy does exist in real life, who has known Mr. Putin's younger daughter since 1997 based on his personal interview with the Korean paper. I know that Mr. Putin would never allow his families to become the focus of the public attention nationwide or worldwide, but I think the news about one's possible marriage is always a blessing, so... About the "Botox" use by Mr. Putin in some western press, I personally think that this is really a very serious & spiteful attack against him. I only have one question in mind: Is it true that the incumbent Russian President is getting more popular with the domestic public, compared to Mr. Putin? Can any Russian posters make a reply?