[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] President Vladimir Putin let slip during his annual news conference Thursday that he "loves" and is loved in return, but refused to reveal the identity of his mystery partner.A young female journalist from a provincial television channel put the question to Putin, saying that "the friends of my aunt" had all badgered her to find out the relationship status of "Russia's top bachelor".
"Give a big hello to your aunt's friends, thanks for such attention," Putin said smoothly, before going into a long spiel about mortgages.
But he then returned to his love life, bizarrely recounting a conversation he had with a friend he described only as a top boss in Europe.
-- "Listen, do you have a love?" the friend asked.
-- "In what way?" Putin responded.
-- "Well do you love someone?"
-- "Well yes."
-- "And does someone love you?"
-- "Yes."
-- "Well thank God."
The friend was so pleased at the news that he "downed a vodka," Putin said.
The Russian leader refused to give any more details, only reassuring his supporters: "Everything is in order. Don't worry."
Putin has been linked to Alina Kabayeva, a former Olympic rhythmic gymnast 31 years his junior who until recently was an MP in Russia's ruling party.