Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Releases a Judo Instructional Video

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has released an instructional video for people who want to learn judo. Here's a look:

The video, "Let's Learn Judo With Vladimir Putin," was released in Putin's hometown of St. Petersburg, on Tuesday. No word on whether Fedor Emelianenko attended.

This is Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva, a 2004 gold medalist who is, according to her Wikipedia entry, "known for her extreme natural flexibility."

I find it a little disturbing that she can stick her head that far back and her leg that far up, but apparently Russian president Vladimir Putin likes it. A Moscow newspaper reported that Putin will be leaving his wife for Kabaeva after his term in office expires next month.

And in a possible sign that Russia doesn't quite have this whole "freedom of the press" thing down pat, that newspaper has now been shut down. Said the editor of the newspaper, Moskovsky Korrespondent, "Obviously, we aren't ready to explore the private lives of the country's leadership."

The Kremlin's position is that Putin's private life is private. So if you want to know more about Putin and Kabaeva, the First Amendment-protected American media is your best bet.

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Alina Kabayeva

A Russian tabloid, the Moskovsky Korrespondent, claimed last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin was romantically linked to former gymnast Alina Kabayeva. The two, seen here at a 2004 banquet in Moscow, were reportedly planning to marry in St. Petersburg on June 15.

Presidential Press Service / ITAR-TASS / AP

Kabayeva, who is now a lawmaker, was nicknamed one of "Putin's babes" after the president reportedly ordered United Russia to add her and other young women to its candidate list in last year's parliamentary elections. Here, she performs at the 22nd European Rythmic gymnastics championship in Moscow in September 2006.

Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP / Getty Images

Putin, here with his wife, Lyudmila, said "there is not a single word of truth" to the Moskovsky Korrespondent report. The report said the couple had split two months ago and that he planned marry Alina Kabayeva, a former gymnast less than half his age. The Putins wed in 1983.

Mikhail Metzel, AP

Moskovsky Korrespondent began backing away from its story after visits from state security services, The Times Online in London reported. However, Deputy Editor Igor Dudinsky told The Times Online he was "absolutely convinced that the foundation of this story is true, that there was a romance."

Kyodo / AP

Kabayeva, according to her Wikipedia entry, is "known for her extreme natural flexibility."

Vincent Yu, AP

Kabaeva, a two-time Olympic medalist, is one of Russia's most successful rhythmic gymnast. However she was stripped of her 2001 Goodwill Games gold metal due to a positive drug test.

Bela Szandelszky, AP

Source: Aljazeera, AP, Times Online

Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP / Getty Images