A Russian newspaper that claimed president Vladimir Putin had secretly divorced his wife and was set to marry a 24-year-old gymnast has been closed down, according to the Sunday Times.
The Moskovsky Korrespondent newspaper published the story, printed an apology on Thursday night, and admitted there was no factual basis for the story. It was widely followed up outside Russia, but practically untouched by other titles in the country.
At a press conference earlier this week, Putin told journalists to keep their “snotty noses” out of his personal life.
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