Vladimir Putin to get divorced

Vladmir Putin and his wife Lyudmila confessed they rarely spent time together as they announced their divorce in a joint interview on Russian TV. The Russian president said:

"We practically never saw each other. To each his own life."

The couple married in 1983 and have two daughters, Maria and Yekaterina. Lyudmila, who eschews the spotlight said:

"I don't like publicity and flying is difficult for me, [...] We will eternally be very close people. I'm thankful that he supports me."

Divorce is common in Russia, nearly 700,000 couples dissolved their marriages in 2009, according to UNICEF.

Russian President Vladmir Putin and his wife Lyudmila have announced they are divorcing after 30 years of marriage.

The pair made a rare public appearance together to announce the decision. Speaking after a attending a ballet performance at the Kremlin, Putin said: "It was our joint decision."

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife, Lyudmila, say they have separated and their marriage is over.