THE BEST WHO vaults over rumors that Vladimir Putin has split with his 50-year-old wife and landed with a 24-year-old Olympic gymnast.

A Moscow newspaper dishes that the Russian president is reportedly leaving his long-time better half Ludmilla, and getting in rhythm with rhythmic dancer Alina Kabaeva.

However, the Russian rag learns that publishing Putin’s alleged affairs can actually be bad for business (with more pics of Alina after the jump).

AL JAZEERA (of all news outlets) reports that after reporting the president’s supposed promiscuity, the MOSKOVSKY KORRESPONDENT has stopped publishing. Owner Alexander Lebedev says the suspension is due to “cost issues” & “conceptual disagreements with the newsroom.”

But the staff believes they’ve become victims of government censorship:

Igor Dudinsky, the deputy editor, said: “Obviously, we aren’t ready to explore the private lives of the country’s leadership. With such a crazy reaction to our article, the authorities aren’t ready for it.”

While the Korrespondent admits that there’s no “factual basis” for Putin leaving his wife, the paper drew its own conclusions:

“But it isn’t hard to believe. Lately, Ludmilla Putin hasn’t been seen much in public with her husband.”

And the president did give the gymnast a government seat last year, naming Kabaeva as the deputy head of the parliament’s committee on youth affairs.

So, maybe Alina’s affection with Vlad is just part of a government study.