After years of maintaining secrecy, the daughters of Russian President Vladimir Putin are emerging into the public eye due to the Russian president contemplating his own mortality, according to a report that has caused a stir.
The speculation began circulating after Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova made appearances at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this week. A former CIA agent informed The Daily Beast that the daughters of the Russian leader were present at the event not to share their professional experiences, but to enhance their father’s image.
Ronald Marks, a veteran with 38 years of US intelligence experience, stated to the American news outlet, “Remember it’s Putin world and we just live in it. That’s an extension of him… his desire to recreate the Russian empire, his desire to show himself as the most powerful guy in Russia. Young daughters represent vitality for him.”
What are Putin’s daughters aiming for?
The 71-year-old Russian leader has been notoriously private about his children, seldom acknowledging their existence. Nevertheless, in the past couple of years, Putin’s children have been appearing in public amidst speculations about the declining health of the country’s president.
Putin’s eldest daughter, Vorontsova, aged 39, is a genetics researcher, while Tikhonova, aged 37, is a tech executive and former acrobatic dancer. Both of them confidently accepted the opportunity to speak at the summit.
Marks informed The Daily Beast that he believes the Russian leader is contemplating his own mortality and is now seeking to establish his legacy. He also expressed his belief that both of Putin’s daughters are intelligent individuals. Marks further stated that if these daughters are willing to step forward and represent their father, Putin will likely take advantage of the opportunity.
The summit, which took place in St. Petersburg, was mentioned by Marks as a convenient platform to assess the public relations capabilities of the two women. Vorontsova and Tikhonova have already been brought into the spotlight on multiple occasions in recent years.
In 2022, the daughters of the Russian leader were sanctioned by the United States, with the White House accusing them of benefiting financially at the expense of the Russian people. It is worth noting that there have been rumors suggesting that Putin may have other children, although their identities have never been officially confirmed.
