Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, 71, has grown close to ‘Barbie lookalike’ censorship chief, 39

TYRANT Vladimir Putin has grown close to a blonde Barbie lookalike who is 32 years his junior.

The 71-year-old is being linked to Ekaterina “Katya” Mizulina, 39, the head of Russia’s Safe Internet League, which clamps down on online dissent.

Vladimir Putin is said to have grown close to internet safety chief Ekaterina ‘Katya’ Mizulina

The Russian tyrant was once wed to former flight attendant Lyudmila Putina but his personal life has since been secretive and shrouded in rumoursGetty

She graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London in 2004, has a degree in art history and is the daughter of pro-Putin senator Elena Mizulina.

Ms Mizulina previously served as a translator in official Russian delegations to China.

Critics say she shares a striking resemblance to other women linked to Putin.

He was married to former flight attendant Lyudmila Putina from 1983 to 2014 and is said to have two secret children with Olympic gold ­medal-winning gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 40.

Their relationship was revealed by Alexei Navalny.

Russian human rights campaigner Olga Romanova told Ukraine’s Channel 24: “Katya Mizulina is to Putin’s taste.

“This Barbie type has always suited him very well.”

MYSTERY ‘FIRST LADY’

Putin has long been rumoured to in a relationship with glamorous gymnastics champion Alina Kabaeva.

The Olympic gold medal winner and TV favourite has not had any other suitors since 2008 despite being one of Russia’s most eligible women.

She was first romantically linked with Putin over a decade ago.

The Kremlin has denied she is his secret First Lady but rumours have persisted including claims she gave birth to at least one child.

One popular Russian newspaper called her the “First Lady, but in the shadows”.

In September 2017 she was pictured with what looked like a wedding ring during an event in Italy.