Perhaps, to say that Vladimir Zhirinovsky is the most brilliant and extraordinary personality on the Russian political arena is to say nothing. This man, thanks to his statement, has long become famous far beyond the borders of Russia and the CIS.
Vladimir Volfovich has received so many nicknames and titles throughout his political career: from an inadequate clown to an eminence grise. Some believe that he says impossible nonsense and absurd things, thus trying to attract attention to his LDPR party. Others, on the contrary, believe that not everything is so simple, and in fact, the government of the country speaks through the mouth of Zhirinovsky, since the top leadership cannot afford to express many things directly. But Vladimir Zhirinovsky can. But such questions are of interest to people close to the circles of power or interested in politics.
Ordinary spectators who witness outstanding performances are, as a rule, interested in completely different questions. Their attention is occupied by the personal life of the politician; many are concerned about the question of who his wife is and how they live, what Zhirinovsky’s children do and how their fate turned out.
The brawler's wife
Watching the speeches of the LDPR leader on TV, you sometimes wonder how you can live in everyday life with such a loud person, who loves to raise his voice and speak sharply, and how you can stand being around him every day. Vladimir Volfovich, at first glance, can give the impression of a hot-tempered and slightly unbalanced man. But there was a woman who was able to walk with him hand in hand for decades. This is Zhirinovsky’s only official wife - Galina Lebedeva.
Their marriage and relationship can be called, with a stretch, light and cloudless, but, despite any adversity, Galina remains a faithful companion and ally of her husband for many years.
The story of meeting and creating a family
This couple met at a fairly young age, when they were both in a summer holiday camp. They say that Galina immediately interested Vladimir. She was a rather interesting slender brunette, a student at the Faculty of Biology at Moscow State University. For almost three years, the young people had just friendly relations, while all the time Zhirinovsky very gallantly courted Galina. Three years after their first meeting, in 1970, Vladimir proposed marriage to the girl, which she accepted. They had their wedding in 1971. And exactly a year later, in 1972, Zhirinovsky’s family was replenished - their son Igor was born.
Unusual marriage
The relationship in this married couple can hardly be called ideal and exemplary, but, despite all the difficulties, the couple have been living together for almost 45 years. There was a period of divorce in their life together, and this happened in 1978. Vladimir and Galina got back together in 1985, and since then they have never been apart. Despite the fact that the couple did not formalize their relationship again, on the eve of their silver wedding, as proof of warm feelings and mutual devotion, they got married in a church.
Childhood and youth
Vladimir was born in Stavropol in October 1975. He was born in Georgievsk, then his parents left for Kamchatka, subsequently divorced, and after 4 years the mother and son returned to Budennovsk. There the boy went to kindergarten and school. For the summer he went to his grandparents in the village of Communist Lighthouse, to the apiary. Volodya liked to help his grandfather on the collective farm and take care of the bees. Vladimirov is Russian by nationality, and his ancestors are Terek Cossacks.
Statesman Vladimir Vladimirov
At school, Volodya was an “average” student; until the 9th grade, by his own admission, he did not pay due attention to his studies. I was even planning to go to vocational school, but my grandfather dissuaded me. Closer to graduation, when I decided on a university, I came to my senses and retook some subjects in order to receive a certificate without C grades. Although the governor admitted that, for the most part, the influence of his mother and grandmother had an impact.
While still a teenager, Vladimir decided that he would become an oil worker and go to work at Budennovsky. I didn’t like the regional polytechnic institute; I didn’t go to Moscow, afraid that I wouldn’t get in.
Vladimir Vladimirov
As a result, I chose Ufa, the Petroleum Technical University, from the directory. Recalling his student years, Vladimirov noted that poverty is the best educator. With friends I had to work part-time as a salesman, a loader, and renovate apartments.
“The pace hasn’t slowed down since then.” The graduate did not return home; in 1997, “the plant stood still, no one needed anything.”
Vladimir began his work biography in Kogalym and experienced first-hand the assertion that the North is dragging on. The young man worked in the structures of Lukoil, Rosneft, Gazpromneft at enterprises in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Irkutsk Region, and went from the head of an oil pumping installation to the director of a refinery.
Dubious divorce
It would seem that civil marriage today would not surprise anyone. People who love each other do not have to prove their feelings at the registry office. But in the case of Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Galina Lebedeva, everything is not so simple.
At a certain period of time, the press discussed the topic that it was beneficial for Vladimir Volfovich to live with his wife informally, since then he might not include her income in his family’s declaration. And since Zhirinovsky’s wife is by no means a simple woman, this state of affairs can only benefit both of them.
Anna's personality
Princess Anna of Byzantium was born into the family of Emperor Roman II in 963. My father had to rule for only 4 years. The girl's mother was an ordinary girl of Armenian origin. Roman died a few days after the birth of his daughter. The commander Nikifor Phokas, whom Anna's mother Feofano married, came to power. In 969 there was a coup d'état. Another military leader, John Tzimiskes, became emperor. He expelled Anna and her mother from the capital.
The girl returned to Constantinople only after her older brothers took the throne. Anna was an enviable European bride, who was expected to be the wife of many monarchs. Relatives treated the princess as an important political card and were in no hurry to marry her off.
Dynastic marriages at that time were an integral part of state affairs. Anna was a valuable wife not only because she came from the reigning Byzantine dynasty, but also because the girl received the best education that that era could give her. Contemporaries gave the bride the nickname Rufa (Redhead).
A faithful friend is not an ordinary biologist
Lebedev is a biologist by profession, works at the Institute of Virology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and has a PhD degree. She studies the problems of HIV infection. But, despite the relatively modest income of a researcher, Galina is the owner of several country residences, Moscow apartments and seven expensive cars.
Lebedeva is also involved in active social activities. She became the creator of the LDPR Women's Association, which solves various humanitarian issues.
Zhirinovsky: children and grandchildren
In his marriage to Galina, the politician had one son, Igor Lebedev. Zhirinovsky and his wife at one time gave the boy his mother’s surname specifically so that his father’s shadow would not interfere with his life. Today Vladimir Volfovich is proud of his son, because, having become an adult, he fully supported the ideas of his father and continued his work.
Just like his father, Igor was attracted to law. In 1996, he quite successfully graduated from the Law Academy in Moscow. Lebedev has long been a member of the LDPR party and over several years he has made a good political career:
- was an assistant to a State Duma deputy;
- held the position of expert specialist in the apparatus of the LDPR faction;
- appointed advisor to the Minister of Labor of the Russian Federation;
- was elected to the State Duma in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2001.
Based on this track record, we can conclude that Igor Vladimirovich’s political career was quite successful, however, just like his personal life.
Lebedev’s wife’s name is Lyudmila, and not too much information is known about her. In his interviews, Igor does not like to answer questions about his wife, in all likelihood, protecting her from the annoying attention of the press. It is only known that the young people have known each other almost since childhood. In 1998, their twin sons were born: Alexander and Sergei. Igor says that he really wanted to name one of them in honor of his father - Vladimir, but Zhirinovsky dissuaded him from this idea. Today, both brothers are students at a prestigious boarding house at Moscow State University.
Their grandfather admits that, unfortunately, he communicates with his grandchildren very rarely, at best, once a month, since he sorely lacks time for everything.
Igor Lebedev confirmed in one of his interviews that the grandfather meets with his grandchildren extremely rarely; at best, he congratulates them on their birthday over the phone. Basically, attention is paid to Alexander and Sergei by grandmothers, who have much more free time than Vladimir Volfovich. But there are other children of Zhirinovsky that are worth talking about.
Rogneda
Of all Vladimir’s wives, two can be singled out that especially vividly characterize the two sides of his contradictory nature: the unbridled and cruel barbarian before baptism and the equally ardent and uncompromising Christian neophyte who received the name Vasily in baptism. We are talking about the daughter of the Polotsk prince Rogneda and the sister of the Byzantine emperor Anna.
Vladimir wooed Rogneda when he was very young. He was already married by that time, but for a pagan this was not an obstacle, because, as already mentioned, our ancestors were polygamous before the adoption of Christianity.
Rogneda preferred his brother Yaropolk, and rejected Vladimir, saying: “I don’t want rozuti robichich.” The most important part of the wedding ceremony among the Slavs was the moment when the bride took off her groom’s shoes as a sign of submission. So, proud Rogneda did not want to kneel down and take off the “robicic”’s shoes.
But Vladimir Svtoslavich was not one of those who would be satisfied with such an answer. He came with his squad to Polotsk, burned the city, raped Rogneda in front of her parents, and then killed Rogneda’s father, mother and brothers. The poor thing would probably have been glad to die too, but the cruel Kiev resident doomed her to a different fate. He made her his legal wife, and she was forced to bear the bonds of this hateful marriage and give birth to children for the prince.
However, Rogneda’s proud disposition still made itself felt. Once, during one of Vladimir’s visits, when the prince fell asleep on the bed of love, Rogneda set out to stab the sleeping ruler. But how can a woman cope with such a seasoned warrior as Vladimir was?
He instantly woke up and caught the hand with the raised dagger. Angry, he ordered his wife to prepare for death. At the same time, he decided to execute Rogneda with barbaric sophistication. The prince ordered Rogneda to dress up as for a wedding and wait for him, sitting on the wedding bed. If you don’t want to live with the prince as a submissive wife, then I’ll marry you with death! Rogneda obediently fulfilled all the conditions of her husband, but managed to talk with Izyaslav, her seven-year-old son from Vladimir.
And so, breathing anger and rage, Vladimir crosses the threshold of the upper room, where Rogneda is waiting for him, draws his sword, and then a boy steps towards him, also with a sword in his hands. He is still small, and the sword is still too heavy for his hands. But the kid bravely says to Vladimir: “Do you remember that you are alone here, father?” (Do you think you are alone here, father?). And the cruel warrior, the barbarian, raised in the Varangian squad ... retreated in front of the child. Lowering his sword, he could only say: “Who thought you were here?” (Who thought you were here?).
In general, Prince Rogneda forgave. And, judging by the fact that after Izyaslav she gave birth to her husband two more sons, one of them the famous Yaroslav the Wise, and two daughters, further family life went well.
Relative from Ossetia
Despite the seemingly not entirely standard, but understandable to many, married life of the politician, it turned out that not all of Zhirinovsky’s children were born with his official wife Galina. And this first became known in 1995. It was then that Vladimir brought a 9-year-old child to one of the local channels and told everyone that this was his son. The boy's name was Oleg, and the politician publicly admitted that he was his father.
The story of the boy’s birth became known to the general public a little later. It turned out that Zhirinovsky met Oleg’s mother, Ossetian Zhanna Gazdarova, in Cuba, where the woman was working at that time. Zhanna was a very bright and beautiful Caucasian girl. A stormy and passionate romance began almost immediately between her and the politician.
Soon the loving couple returned to Moscow, where Oleg was born. Zhanna decided to send him to be raised by her mother, who lived in the small village of Chikola in North Ossetia. It was there that Oleg spent his entire childhood, where his grandmother, Rakhimat Kardanova, was in charge of his full upbringing.
An unexpected acquaintance
Vladimir Konkin met his only wife Alla immediately after graduating from school. Although this could have happened much earlier. Their communication could have started back in elementary school. They went to the same school together and studied in the same class, but not for long. Within a few weeks, parents transferred their children to other schools.
The next time Alla and Vladimir met was at an alumni reunion. At that time, the guy was already a student at the theater school. He came to meet his father, who was on the parent committee of the class. Alla came there with her mother, who was Vladimir's class teacher.
The guy immediately noticed the attractive girl, but the acquaintance was rather awkward. Parents were present nearby and the young people were slightly embarrassed by them. They managed to get to know each other fully only the next year, when fewer students came to the meeting evening and no parents were nearby.
That evening Vladimir spoke colorfully about his student life and which of the actors he had the chance to meet. In general, that evening he charmed not only Anna, but also her parents. They invited the guy to visit their home and he gladly accepted the invitation.
Vladimir became a frequent guest in his beloved’s house. This gave him the opportunity to get to know her better and be close to her. At first, she and Alla became close friends, and after some time they decided to tie the knot.
Son's wedding without father's presence
The press again sharply remembered and started talking about the illegitimate son of a State Duma deputy when Oleg Gazdarov turned 26 years old. It was at this age that he decided to get married. His chosen one was an Ossetian, Madina Batyrova, whom he met at Moscow State University. The wedding attracted the attention of journalists because it was celebrated on a special scale. The celebration took place in the Ossetian city of Digora. The most prestigious restaurant, Alcor, was reserved for the celebration, whose employees admit that they have never seen such a luxurious event in the entire history of the establishment. According to information provided at various forums, about 800 guests were present at the celebration. The cost of the bride's dress was estimated at about 200 thousand rubles. There are also rumors that rings for young people were purchased from Tiffany. The bride ransom ceremony took place without unnecessary stinginess on the part of the groom. In general, everything spoke of luxury and complete prosperity for the newlyweds.
It was no secret to anyone that all expenses for organizing the celebration were covered by Vladimir Volfovich. Naturally, all the gathered relatives, and, of course, the newlyweds themselves, were really looking forward to the arrival of the famous father of the groom. But the meeting never happened. Considering the level of Zhirinovsky’s daily workload, it is quite possible that he really did not have time to attend this event, but it is quite possible that he did not consider it necessary to attend there, believing that his father’s duty was fully fulfilled by paying all expenses.
Mysterious daughter Anastasia
When wondering how many children Vladimir Zhirinovsky has, one should not think that everything was limited to two recognized sons. In his numerous interviews, Vladimir has repeatedly said that he also has an illegitimate daughter. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find detailed information about this girl in open sources. Perhaps she herself does not want to advertise her status as an illegitimate child. According to Zhirinovsky himself, all that is known is that her name is Anastasia. On the birth certificate, her middle name is listed in accordance with her biological father, that is, Vladimirovna. And Zhirinovsky’s daughter bears her mother’s surname - Petrova.
The story of Nastya’s birth is not advertised in detail. At the same time, Vladimir Volfovich says that if Russian laws allowed him to have several wives, he would have formalized his relationship with Nastya’s mother long ago, and Zhirinovsky’s daughter herself would have long ago bore his last name.
Harem of Prince Vladimir
Photo: calles.ru
It is difficult to truly say whether Vladimir Svyatoslavovich had a harem. But there is a version that Vladimir the Red Sun had eight official wives and a huge number of concubines. Even the prince himself was born from Malusha, the concubine of his father, Svyatoslav. Many people called him “robichich” (son of a slave), but despite this origin he still took the throne. Two of Vdamimir's wives were especially different from the rest - the daughter of the Polotsk prince Rognede and the sister of the Byzantine emperor Anna. They influenced both the prince and the course of history; these women were difficult and capricious.
When Vladimir married Rogneda, he was already a married man, but the pagans did not see any obstacle in this. But everything was not so simple with the bride herself, she said: “I don’t want rozuti robichich,” that is, the son of a slave. The girl abandoned the ritual when the bride takes off her future husband's shoes and kneels. As legends say, Vladimir, in response to this insult, burned Plock, raped Rogneda in front of her parents, and then killed them and the bride’s brothers. Family life at first went smoothly, Rogneda gave birth to children for the prince, but one day, when Vladimir was sleeping, she came to the bed with a knife and wanted to kill him. The prince decided to execute his wife, but at the most decisive moment Rogneda’s seven-year-old son came to the rescue; with a ball in his hand, he approached his father and said: “Who thought you were here?” (Who thought you were here?). Vladimir retreated. The fact is that the mother managed to talk with Izyaslav, she warned him about what Vladimir wanted to do. After this, the couple continued to live together, they gave birth to four more children - two girls and two boys, among them the future Prince Yaroslav the Wise.
Another wife is Anna, she was the sister of the Byzantine Emperor Roman II, the sister of the co-emperor emperors - the famous Vasily the Bulgarian Slayer and Constantine VIII. After Vladimir conquered Korsun, Byzantium decided to negotiate with the prince; in exchange for an important point in the Black Sea, he asked the Byzantines for Anna as his wife. If the emperor did not give up his sister, Vladimir threatened to go to Constantinople. Anna did not agree at first, she cried, but soon resigned herself to the inevitable marriage. Anna’s condition was Vladimir’s baptism, he agreed, because he had long been thinking about adopting Orthodoxy in Rus'. In addition, the prince even sent ambassadors to Constantinople, who returned fascinated by Orthodoxy.
Vladimir's baptism took place in Korsun, then a wedding ceremony took place in the Orthodox spirit, and the city became a gift to the bride's brothers in honor of the event. With her to barbaric Rus', the beautiful Anna brought priests, scientists, and architects, all of whom were supposed to create a life for the princess that resembled a home. Anna also began to teach Vladimir, he obeyed her and willingly obeyed. The princess was smart, beautiful and educated, and under her influence the prince changed noticeably.
Thus, with the arrival of Anna in Rus', the construction of temples and palaces began, “book learning” appeared, and children from noble families went to school. The general situation in the country became more moderate, calmer, softer, the prince even thought about abolishing the death penalty. By the way, Anna also introduced a new fashion - Byzantine. Now in Rus' many dressed as was customary in Constantinople.
These were the most outstanding wives of Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, very different, each of them changed the emperor, dictated their own rules. Women are often able to control even such strong and courageous people as Prince Vladimir the Red Sun. As for the concubines, there is no exact evidence about their number, living conditions, etc.
More on the topic:
Scientists: “Prince Vladimir is one of the main figures in Russian history”
Historians about Prince Vladimir: Under him, Rus' became a real state
Interesting bills of a charismatic politician
At a certain period of time, Vladimir Volfovich actively promoted one bill in the State Duma. He was supposed to allow Russian men to have several official wives and register all children born in these relationships in his name. Of course, many immediately connected this with the fact that not all of Zhirinovsky’s children were born in a legal marriage.
There are different ways to view his political activities as a liberal democrat; one may not like his often eccentric speeches and scandalous statements, or, on the contrary, watch with great interest. But regardless of all the factors, Vladimir Volfovich should be given undoubted credit for one thing - he never abandoned his children born out of wedlock with Galina Lebedeva. It’s a pity that the general public will most likely never know how Zhirinovsky’s official family actually views such public confessions of his father and husband.
Anna of Byzantium
Anna was the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Roman II, the sister of the co-emperor emperors - the famous Vasily the Bulgarian Slayer and Constantine VIII. Representatives of European royal dynasties wooed her. However, she found her destiny in the person of the Kyiv barbarian. Anna was probably pretty, since her mother Feofano, according to contemporaries, was a real beauty, and both brothers had a pleasant appearance.
Vladimir went to Crimea and captured Korsun. The Byzantine emperors could not come to terms with the loss of this important point on the Black Sea, so they began negotiations with Vladimir. He promised them peace if they gave him their sister Anna as his wife, and otherwise he threatened to go to Constantinople. It’s not that the rulers of the Empire were very afraid of the barbarian squad, but Vladimir could cause them a lot of trouble, the state was exhausted by wars, and the treasury was impoverished. In general, the brothers began to persuade Anna to agree to this marriage. She cried and accepted the offer. But she made Vladimir’s baptism a condition. Vladimir easily agreed, since by that time he was already thinking about accepting Christianity and even sent his ambassadors to Constantinople, who returned, enchanted by the beauty of the Orthodox Divine service.
Vladimir was baptized in Korsun, married Anna according to the Orthodox rite, and as a wed (wedding gift) gave the city he had taken in battle to his brother-emperors.
Anna came to Rus', of course, with a large retinue, which included priests, learned men, architects, and various servants, who were supposed to organize for her a life at least somewhat reminiscent of the one to which she was accustomed in the magnificent Constantinople .
And, first of all, she undertook to educate her husband. He turned out to be an obedient student. In general, judging by the actions described in the chronicle, Vladimir before and after baptism are simply two different people. The chronicler attributes this to the beneficial influence of Christianity. But, I think, it could not have happened without the influence of his wife - a beautiful, educated, sophisticated Byzantine princess.
Arriving in Kyiv, Vladimir began to transform. In the capital of Rus', large-scale construction of temples and palaces began, the prince established “book learning,” that is, a school for the offspring of noble families, and chronicle writing began at court. We can even talk about softening morals. Ardent and passionate, like all neophytes, Vladimir started to abolish the death penalty, but he was convinced that the time had not yet come for such measures.
And, of course, Anna introduced Byzantine fashion to the Kiev court. From now on, and for many centuries to come, the Russian nobility began to dress as was customary in Constantinople.
