Russian President Vladimir Putin and Wife Announce Separation (VIDEO)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila have called it quits. The couple announced their separation on the Russian state television.

"It was a joint decision: we hardly see each other, each of us has our own life," Putin said to the channel after attending a ballet performance with his wife. The couple ended their almost-30-years of marriage (their marriage anniversary is on July 28) saying that they "rarely see each other."

Sixty-year-old Putin and 55-year-old Lyudmila made very few public appearances, which sparked off Russian media speculations on their marriage. Their last public appearance together was on May 7, 2012, at Putin's inauguration for his third presidential term.

Lyudmila had previously told reporters that she did not enjoy publicity and accompanying Putin for his work was difficult for her. "Vladimir Vladimirovich is completely drowned with work," she said.

However, she thanked Putin for his support. "I am very grateful to Vladimir... that he still supports me. And the children, he really cares for them and the children feel this," she told the TV channel.

It is unclear whether the couple is legally divorced. Lyudmila said that it was a "civilized divorce." Putin and his wife have two daughters; Maria, 27, and Yekaterina, 26. 

Rumour mills say that Putin and Lyudmila secretly divorced long back and that the Russian President was planning to marry former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva. In 2008, Putin denied such rumours. Last year it was reported that he was having a secret affair with spy-turned-model Anna Chapman, which became the reason for media speculation on why his wife never accompanied him.

Russia has one of the highest rates of divorce in the world with nearly 700,000 couples ending their marriages in 2009, stated a UNICEF report.