Russian President Vladimir Putin is accused of an unprecedented level of nepotism and family favoritism, giving important positions in state institutions and public companies to at least 20 of his relatives and former partners, including his ex-wife and ex-girlfriends.
According to an investigation published by several Russian media outlets, Putin's family and personal connections have penetrated every link in the Russian administration and economy, to a degree that, according to the report, exceeds any precedent since the time of Tsar Nicholas II.
Among the most influential figures is Anna Tsiviliova, the daughter of the president's late cousin, Yevgeny Putin. She was appointed deputy defense minister in 2024, just a month after her husband, Sergei Tsiviliov, left his post as governor of the coal-rich Kemerovo region to become energy minister.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Tsivilyova has been placed in the Defense Ministry to monitor corruption and loyalty of officials, reporting directly to Putin. Her son, Dmitry Loginov (27), runs companies linked to the mining giant Kolmar, while her brother, Mikhail Putin, holds a senior position at Gazprom, the state energy company. Mikhail's son, Denis Putin (28), is also a shareholder in the Sheremetyevo business complex, which includes state-owned companies.
The report also mentions Igor Putin and Lyubov Kruglova, the president's cousins, who have benefited from lucrative contracts and management positions in state-linked companies. Meanwhile, Kruglova's son, Viktor Khmarin, is currently the head of RusHydro, one of the country's largest electricity operators.
Putin's two daughters with his ex-wife Lyudmila, Maria Vorontsova (an endocrinologist) and Katerina Tikhonova (a manager in the technology sector), are also part of the state elite and participated in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2024. However, the Russian president has never publicly acknowledged them as his daughters, although this is something known.
The investigation also includes Putin's ties to Alina Kabaeva, the former Olympic gymnast and former MP who is believed to have two children with the president. The media has published evidence that Kabaeva received secret payments from a Kremlin-linked military unit (No. 16660), dating back to 2000–2001, when Putin had just taken office as president. Today, she is one of the richest women in Russia, with a property portfolio estimated at over £80 million.
Another connection mentioned is Svetlana Krivonogikh, a former store employee who later became one of Putin's partners, with whom he allegedly has a daughter.
The report published by the investigative project "Proekt" emphasizes that power in Russia is closely linked to Putin's personal and family interests, creating a powerful network of control within the state and economic elite.
