How the news about Putin's alleged daughter was denied An exposé about Katerina Tikhonova riles the Kremlin and Gazprombank

On November 10, Reuters published a large exposé about Katerina Tikhonova, who the news agency says is one of President Vladimir Putin's daughters. Reuters managed to uncover the first official confirmation that Tikhonova, who heads the Innopraktika Foundation, which is currently developing a real estate project at Moscow State University, is Putin's daughter. Reuters' story, titled "Putin’s Daughter, A Young Billionaire and the President’s Friends," quotes Andrey Akimov, deputy chairman of the Russian lender Gazprombank, saying, “I knew it was Putin’s daughter," when asked about Tikhonova and Innopraktika. Reuters says it also received confirmation about Tikhonova being Putin's daughter from two senior academic sources, "one at Moscow State University and one scientist with close contacts there." A few hours after Reuters published its report, Gazprombank's press office accused the news agency of falsely attributing words to Akimov. The Kremlin's official spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, later issued a qualified denial, as well. Finally, Reuters responded with a statement of its own, insisting that it can support all the claims made in its story. Meduza couldn't pass up summarizing this incredible series of denials.

How news about about Putin's daughter was denied

2:47 p.m. Reuters

Gazprombank deputy chairman Andrey Akimov declares that Tikhonova is Putin's daughter.

8:26 p.m. Gazprombank press office

Andrey Akimov never said anything about Putin's daughter.

9:00 p.m. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman

"Reuters has reported that Akimov said a certain woman is Putin's daughter. This I can deny, based on Akimov's own denial."

11:13 p.m. Reuters 

"Mr. Akimov spoke to Reuters on the record," the news agency said. "Our account of what he said is wholly accurate, and Reuters stands by its story."