UPDATED: Pressure builds on Switzerland to deport ‘Putin’s mistress’
A petition has been launched for Switzerland to extradite former Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva, who is rumoured to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s long-time mistress and the mother of four of his children.
Under the title "Switzerland, why are you sheltering the helpers of the Putin regime?”, the petition calls for the immediate extradition of Kabaeva to Russia.
The petition compares Kabaeva and Putin to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and his wife Eva Braun.
"It's time you reunite Eva Braun with her Fuhrer," says the petition, which had more than 70,000 signatures as at April 26th, with a goal of 75,000.
Where in the world is Alina Kabaeva?
The 38-year-old gymnast, who has been pictured with the 69-year-old Putin on several occasions, is rumoured to have given birth to four children with the Russian leader.
The first of which, a daughter, was born in the southern Swiss town of Lugano.
According to US news outlet Page Six and British newspaper The Times, Kabaeva lives in a heavily fortified chalet in the Ticino alps in the south of the country.
However, US officials said they believed Kabaeva lived "in a high-walled villa with a helipad" in Cologny, an upmarket suburb of Geneva, Swiss news media reports.
Swiss news outlet 20 Minutes said a statement from immigration authorities indicated Kabaeva did not have a residence permit to live in Switzerland.
In late April, Kabaeva appeared at a gymnastics event in Moscow, which was adorned with Russia's 'Z' symbol which has become synonymous with the Ukraine invasion.
In her appearance, Kabaeva said "every family has a war story and we mustn't forget it", while linking the current invasion to the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War Two.
Who is Kabaeva and will she be kicked out?
Kabaeva won a gold medal at the 2008 olympics and is rumoured to be romantically linked with Putin since 2008 after an article in the "Moskovskij Korrespondent”, which was later shut down after publishing the report.
The online petition does not appear to have any legal influence over any migration or extradition decision made by Switzerland.
Whether the former gymnast can be extradited firstly depends on whether she actually lives in Switzerland, with national broadcaster RTS reporting on Monday that federal justice officials believe she is not currently in Switzerland.
“The FDJP has no indication of the presence of this person in Switzerland. The appropriate clarifications have been made."
If Kabaeva is actually in Switzerland, she may be deported if it is deemed she is staying unlawfully in Switzerland, if she has committed criminal acts or if she is deemed a security threat.
In practice, whether she will be deported is likely to depend in part on her citizenship status.
Some media outlets have reported that Kabaeva has Swiss citizenship. Switzerland reserves the right to exercise its own citizens but does not do so in practice.
Children born in Switzerland do not automatically receive Swiss citizenship, but can be deemed citizens if a parent has a Swiss passport.
READ MORE: How to apply for Swiss citizenship: An essential guide
Notoriously neutral Switzerland has backed EU sanctions against Russia, with Swiss President Ignazio Cassis repeatedly critical of Russia’s invasion.
The Swiss government is expecting 50,000 refugees to arrive fleeing the conflict, although some estimates suggest the real number is likely to be higher.
An estimated 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine in the month since the invasion, the majority of which are currently in neighbouring Poland.
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Under the title "Switzerland, why are you sheltering the helpers of the Putin regime?”, the petition calls for the immediate extradition of Kabaeva to Russia.
The petition compares Kabaeva and Putin to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and his wife Eva Braun.
"It's time you reunite Eva Braun with her Fuhrer," says the petition, which had more than 70,000 signatures as at April 26th, with a goal of 75,000.
Where in the world is Alina Kabaeva?
The 38-year-old gymnast, who has been pictured with the 69-year-old Putin on several occasions, is rumoured to have given birth to four children with the Russian leader.
The first of which, a daughter, was born in the southern Swiss town of Lugano.
According to US news outlet Page Six and British newspaper The Times, Kabaeva lives in a heavily fortified chalet in the Ticino alps in the south of the country.
However, US officials said they believed Kabaeva lived "in a high-walled villa with a helipad" in Cologny, an upmarket suburb of Geneva, Swiss news media reports.
Swiss news outlet 20 Minutes said a statement from immigration authorities indicated Kabaeva did not have a residence permit to live in Switzerland.
In late April, Kabaeva appeared at a gymnastics event in Moscow, which was adorned with Russia's 'Z' symbol which has become synonymous with the Ukraine invasion.
In her appearance, Kabaeva said "every family has a war story and we mustn't forget it", while linking the current invasion to the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War Two.
Who is Kabaeva and will she be kicked out?
Kabaeva won a gold medal at the 2008 olympics and is rumoured to be romantically linked with Putin since 2008 after an article in the "Moskovskij Korrespondent”, which was later shut down after publishing the report.
The online petition does not appear to have any legal influence over any migration or extradition decision made by Switzerland.
Whether the former gymnast can be extradited firstly depends on whether she actually lives in Switzerland, with national broadcaster RTS reporting on Monday that federal justice officials believe she is not currently in Switzerland.
“The FDJP has no indication of the presence of this person in Switzerland. The appropriate clarifications have been made."
If Kabaeva is actually in Switzerland, she may be deported if it is deemed she is staying unlawfully in Switzerland, if she has committed criminal acts or if she is deemed a security threat.
In practice, whether she will be deported is likely to depend in part on her citizenship status.
Some media outlets have reported that Kabaeva has Swiss citizenship. Switzerland reserves the right to exercise its own citizens but does not do so in practice.
Children born in Switzerland do not automatically receive Swiss citizenship, but can be deemed citizens if a parent has a Swiss passport.
READ MORE: How to apply for Swiss citizenship: An essential guide
Notoriously neutral Switzerland has backed EU sanctions against Russia, with Swiss President Ignazio Cassis repeatedly critical of Russia’s invasion.
The Swiss government is expecting 50,000 refugees to arrive fleeing the conflict, although some estimates suggest the real number is likely to be higher.
An estimated 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine in the month since the invasion, the majority of which are currently in neighbouring Poland.
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