Putin opens up on his private life and family in an interview
In a rare interview Russia's president speaks of meeting his daughters at home monthly and of life being too busy to have many friends
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is famously reticent about his private life, has broken his silence to discuss his family, his lack of friends and the whereabouts of his two adult daughters, whose lives are a closely kept secret.
In a rare glimpse into the Russian ruler's family life, Putin told the state-run Tass news agency that both women lived in Moscow.
Putin's daughters Maria, 29, nicknamed Masha, and Yekaterina, 28, known as Katya are a mystery to Russians, who do not even know what they look like.
I’ve always had a low opinion of those … who delve into the lives of others
But Putin denied rumours that they were living abroad, saying he met them monthly.
"I have a packed work schedule. Even my daughters I only see once or twice a month, and then I need to pick my moment," Putin said.
Asked what country his daughters live in, the former KGB officer said: "In Russia, where else? Of course, they live in Moscow. We meet at home."
According to unconfirmed reports this summer, Maria was forced to flee her home in the Netherlands after a missile allegedly supplied by Moscow downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine, killing 298 people, mostly Dutch nationals.