Putin And The Lady In Red

BBC: Putin's mystery passenger sends the internet into a frenzy

Russian social media has been abuzz with discussions of President Putin's "mysterious passenger".

Military TV channel Zvezda has shown a video of Putin at a sacred monastery in Valaam, Russia, opening a car door for a passenger with what looks like a red bag or dress.

The president then quickly shuts the door, and so the passenger is not revealed.

People have been inventing theories as to the identity of the person.

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WNU editor: Normally .... you do not bring your girl-friend or wife to the Valaam Monastery. It is a place for contemplation and meditation. I know .... I visited the place 20 years ago. As to who was in the car .... I have seen a few videos of President Putin opening doors to female security personnel and aides in the past .... nothing new there, that is just him. But by the way she gestured in the car tells me that she is someone that he knows very well .... he behaved automatically and without hesitation when she pointed ... so that tells me that it is either a very close aide (I understand there are about 3 or 4 on his staff who have been with him for years), or his GF Alina Kabayeva. My money is on Alina Kabayev.