Why is Putin letting his daughters 'come out of hiding'? He's considering mortality, ex-CIA agent says

After years of maintaining secrecy, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s daughters are stepping into the public light because the Russian president is “considering his mortality,” said an explosive report.

The rumour mills started swirling after Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova spoke at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this week. A former CIA agent told The Daily Beast that the daughters of the Russian leader attended the event this week, not to share insights about their professional experience but to boost their father’s image.

“Remember it’s Putin world and we just live in it,” Ronald Marks, who has 38 years of US intelligence work under his belt, told the American news outlet. “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," he furthered.

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What are Putin’s daughters pursuing?

The 71-year-old Russian leader is known for being secretive about his children, rarely acknowledging their existence. However, in the last two years, Putin’s children have been making public appearances amid rumours of the country’s president’s dwindling health.

Putin’s oldest daughter Vorontsova, 39, is a genetics researcher and Tikhonova, 37, a tech executive and former acrobatic dancer. Both of them boldly accepted the invitation to speak at the summit.

“He’s considering his mortality,” Marks told The Daily Beast. “He’s getting to be at that age right now where he’s now looking for his legacy. And both of those kids to my understanding are pretty sharp. “If those daughters can step out front and centre and represent him, I think he’ll take advantage of it," he added.

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The summit in question was hosted in St. Petersburg and Marks mentioned that it serves as an “easy forum” to test the women’s PR ability. Both Vorontsova and Tikhonova have been brought to the forefront several times in recent years.

In 2022, the United States sanctioned the daughters of the Russian leader accusing them of “enriching themselves at the expense of the Russian people,” the White House said at the time. Interestingly, Putin is widely rumoured to have other children. However, their identities have never been confirmed.

With inputs from agencies.