Malaysian Sultan Muhammad V has divorced his Russian wife Oksana Voevodina, Singapore lawyer confirms
- Following Muhammad’s issuance of the triple talaq on June 22, the sharia court in his state of Kelantan issued a divorce certificate on July 1, the lawyer said
- The ex-beauty queen, who is in Russia with her son, said the circulation online of the divorce certificate was ‘an act of provocation’
Discussion about the private affairs of Malaysia’s constitutional monarchs, who serve as guardians of the Islamic faith and centuries-old Malay culture, is usually muted but the recent twists and turns in the couple’s marriage has become a hot topic not only within the country but also among royalty gawkers across the region.
Koh said the divorce was undertaken through the mechanism under Muslim law known as “triple talaq”, whereby men can divorce their wives by saying the word “talaq” or “divorce” in Arabic, three times.
A triple talaq, as opposed to a single talaq, is considered the severest form of divorce under Islamic jurisprudence because the couple cannot reunite unless the woman weds another man, consummates the marriage, and then divorces him.
In his statement, Koh said following Muhammad’s issuance of the triple talaq on June 22, the sharia court in his state of Kelantan issued a divorce certificate on July 1 in accordance with Malaysia’s Islamic Family Law Enactment.
“On behalf of His Royal Highness, we request that his privacy be respected,” Koh said.
Oksana, speaking to the local news portal Malaysiakini sang a different tune.
In a report published on Saturday morning, Oksana told the news portal she was in Russia with her son, and claimed the circulation online of the divorce certificate was “an act of provocation”.
The ex-beauty queen added she believed Muhammad was still “full of love” for her and her son.
That was not in sync with separate comments by the monarch’s lawyer Koh to Singapore’s Straits Times. Koh told the newspaper: “There is no objective evidence as yet as to the biological father of the child.”
The couple have grabbed headlines even before recent developments.
Their marriage attracted particular attention when it was publicised late last year as the sultan was at the time the country’s Yang di Pertuan Agong – the title held by the ceremonial head of state, which is rotated among the nine Malay sultans every five years.
Commentators suggested his abdication was prompted by opposition within royal circles to his marriage last June to Oksana, a foreigner nearly 22 years younger.
As rumours of their divorce began to trickle onto social media in June, Oksana opened an Instagram account that has now amassed over 400,000 followers.
Her posts mainly feature pictures of her and Muhammad, accompanied by anecdotes about their romance. The latest post, a video, was posted last week and features the couple being interviewed about their relationship priorities.
“I want to be the last person in his life and I want to live with him until the end of my life,” Oksana said in the 38-second video. Meanwhile, the sultan said the family’s number one priority was children because “children carry on your legacy”. He said “patience and understanding” were the most important ingredients for a successful relationship.
