Russian President Vladimir Putin, known for keeping his personal life private, made an unusual move as his daughters, Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova, made appearances at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, as reported by CNN.
Maria and Katerina are Putin’s daughters from his previous marriage to Lyudmila, with whom he parted ways after three decades together. While Putin had acknowledged having daughters and grandchildren engaged in science and education, he had never disclosed their identities.
While both Maria and Katerina had attended previous St Petersburg forums, Katerina is known to be more outspoken. At this year’s event, Katerina, through a video link, discussed the concept of “technological sovereignty” within the military-industrial complex, while Maria addressed innovations in biotechnology and bioproduction in person.
Both sisters are subject to US sanctions due to their ties to the Russian defense sector. Speculations have arisen, including among Putin’s rivals, suggesting that some of his wealth might be concealed in the bank accounts of family members.
According to information from the late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation, Maria reportedly earned over $10 million between 2019 and 2022 through her employment with a medical company.
It’s believed that both daughters reside in Western countries, further adding to the intrigue surrounding Putin’s family and personal affairs.
