Barbara Halla
In the past few days, numerous Albanian media platforms have shared an article alleging that Russian President Vladimir Putin has roots in Kosovo. This report is false, as it is based on sensationalist sources and offers no proof or factual evidence, especially considering that Putin’s family history is well documented.
Albanian media have taken the news from the German newspaper BILD, which is known for frequently publishing unverified stories, as is the case with the claims about Putin. The article includes exaggerations and several inaccuracies, such as the notion that Putin keeps a physical distance from guests out of fear that his physical weaknesses might be revealed. This claim appears to be based on photos showing Putin positioning world leaders at the far ends of a large table during bilateral meetings, or seated at separate tables. However, these images mostly date from the 2020–2022 period, when COVID-19 safety protocols were in place.
Neither BILD nor the Albanian media that have shared this story have provided any verifiable evidence for this claim. According to them, the information comes from a group of hackers who allegedly obtained the DNA of Putin’s nephew, Mikhail Putin, from his computer. Mikhail Putin is a board member of the Russian gas company SOGAZ and is believed to be the son of Putin’s cousin, which means that even their genetic ties and degree of relation are uncertain. The idea of a 6.25% genetic match between the two seems to have been taken from generic tables estimating the percentage of DNA shared with distant relatives.
Furthermore, there is no concrete information about these hackers, who they are, how they made the information public, or for what reason. The entire story rests on BILD’s speculation about the existence of such evidence, with no concrete or verifiable source to support it.
Evidence
Secondly, historical evidence directly contradicts these claims. Putin’s family history is well documented in Russian archives, showing clear roots in the Tver region of Russia, only a few hours away from Moscow. There is no documented historical evidence linking Putin’s family to Kosovo or any Albanian territory. Even though Putin has attempted to create a kind of legend about his family, it is not to hide any origin from the Balkans or Kosovo, but rather to build a personal myth about his ancestors as simple people from rural Russia, rather than from the local elite.
Haplogroup E-V13 is indeed more widespread in the Southern Balkans, including Albania and Kosovo, where it can make up as much as 30% of the population. In Russia, however, it is much rarer – typically less than 5%, though still not impossible. It is also found in Spain and Portugal, and especially in North Africa, much more than in Kosovo or Albania. Moreover, even if the DNA claim were true (which, due to the lack of evidence, it is not), belonging to a haplogroup does not indicate nationality or cultural origin. It could have been passed down by an ancestor who lived thousands of years ago, with no connection to more recent family history.
These articles seek to capture readers’ attention with sensational headlines and claims. For example, the article also includes another claim that Hitler belongs to the same haplogroup, coming from an unreliable source such as English tabloids, which spread such gossip for attention, even when there is no scientific foundation to back it up.
