Ex-presidential candidate
Agency: Daughter of Putin mentor back in Russia
Ksenia Sobchak is the daughter of Anatoly Sobchak, who was Putin’s political mentor as mayor of St. Petersburg in the 1990s. (Archive image) photo
© Thomas Körbel/dpa
For a long time, Ksenia Sobchak enjoyed more freedom in Russia than other liberal and pro-Western celebrities. In the meantime, she too is said to be in the sights of the judiciary – and apparently wants to face it.
Prominent Russian TV presenter and former presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak has returned to Russia, according to the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti.
Sobchak entered the Baltic Republic of Latvia on Sunday, the agency reported, citing eyewitnesses. The 40-year-old left Russia for Lithuania at the end of October. State media had reported that Sobchak was under investigation.
The journalist is the daughter of Anatoly Sobchak, who, as mayor of St. Petersburg in the 1990s, was a political mentor to current President Vladimir Putin.
For a long time, Sobchak enjoyed more freedom in Russia than other liberal and pro-Western celebrities. However, at the end of October, the judiciary arrested two of Sobchak’s confidants for alleged extortion. State media had reported that the judiciary was also taking action against them.