How to grow your princes
so they become...
Hello,
Today, nothing special, just a silly idea I had while diving into Russian politics (you don’t need a scuba, but a gas mask helps).
In a recent investigation (will open a link in Russian), the agency called Center “Dossier” has doxxed two previously secret sons of Vladimir Putin, Ivan and Vladimir (guess who’s daddy’s favorite). The fact that the head of state has secret children with an ex-gymnast, ex-Duma deputy Alina Kabaeva, was not new by itself, but this was the first time these children were named and details of their lives were described (even though the journalists omitted the children’s photos).
A nice blow to Putin, who cares about secrecy above most things, but nothing too earth-shattering. What I found interesting was how these kids live. Keep in mind that they are now 9 and 5 years old.
Most importantly of all, it’s complete isolation from the outside world. The people whom these kids meet are very few in number and thoroughly vetted by FGS (Russian analogue of the Secret Service). They get private teachers and tutors and they mostly live in a huge walled-in estate.
A Google Earth map of the Putin’s kids’ estate/Dossier/Captions, left to right: “Study house”, “Spa-center”, “Main house”, “Hockey ring”.
Some quotes from the text that describe the kids’ daily life and living conditions:
His eldest son Ivan prefers Disney cartoons and, much to the displeasure of his parents, plays by pretending to be their characters. He mostly has to play alone or with adults who are constantly around Putin's sons. They see their parents only late in the evening, and their peers mainly during holidays.
The sons stay in the main house with their parents, while the governesses and coaches live in separate buildings, with special structures dedicated to lessons—all located within walking distance. However, no one walks: the brothers have their own cars with drivers, and the teachers and servants have separate vehicles.
At the children's disposal in Valdai are two ponies, rabbits, and a Saint Bernard, which is looked after by two FGS dog handlers. The dog, however, is not a service animal and lives with the family.
The brothers' lifestyle resembles that of their father. They have personal chefs who prepare separate dishes for them. Like Vladimir Putin, his sons have their own cups, and they drink only from them. Security officers from the president's security service, the main division of the FGS, are always present near the children.
Occasionally, other children do appear at the residence—often the children of Kabaeva's friends, who, like everyone else, have to spend two weeks in quarantine.
It is likely that the parents assume the children might follow in their mother's footsteps and become professional athletes. Almost every residence has a sports complex with a gymnastics hall and a swimming pool, and sometimes even a hockey rink. The children have personal trainers for swimming and gymnastics.
Putin treats his sons with even more tenderness than he once did with his daughters. Moreover, the family’s daily life is now managed not so much by his wife, as it was in the 1980s in the USSR and East Germany, but by numerous staff members, including relatives of his wife, friends of the president, intelligence officers, and hired personnel. None of them dares to argue with the children, so they grow up knowing that they are exceptional. Any whim is fulfilled, and they perceive all the residences they live in as their personal domains.
The special treatment of their father by everyone around them only reinforces this feeling. Their teachers, bodyguards, and the rest of the staff fear Putin, and he is the only one who can speak strictly to the boys.
While I was reading all that, I tried to catch a pesky thought: what does this remind me of? Lonely children who live in a lavish walled-in estate with friendly animals. Who never meet random people, only their servants. Who very rarely meet other children. Who are driven around all the time. Who are entertained and taught by hired teachers. Who spend their lives in luxury, entertainment, learning, and sports activities. Whose every whim and desire is answered.
And also, who can these infinitely entitled and pampered kids grow up into?
Well, then I remembered. This, in general, is the life of old-school royalty, but it reminded me of someone specific.
Burmese scroll depicting scenes from the Life of the Buddha/British Library
Siddhartha Gautama also lived in a lavish walled-in estate with friendly animals. He also never met random people, only his servants. He was also entertained and taught by hired teachers. He also spent his lives in luxury, leisure, learning, and sports activities. His every whim and desire was also answered.
However, after encountering the Four Sights, he became the Buddha.
I am not trying to say anything specific or serious by that, oh no. (In fact, I am so not serious that the draft for this letter was called “Puddha” for a while.) This is just a silly analogy I had. But it reminded me that the future is not written. Upbringing is not destiny. And even the most spoiled and entitled little brat may grow into a spiritual leader. So there is some hope for Ivan and Vladimir too.
All they need is to meet an old man, a sick person, a corpse being carried to cremation, and a monk deep in meditation beneath a tree.
And timing, yeah, that’s important too.
This essay was written for the Soaring Twenties Social Club (STSC) Symposium. The STSC is a small, exclusive online speakeasy where a dauntless band of raconteurs, writers, artists, philosophers, flaneurs, musicians, idlers, and bohemians share ideas and companionship. Each month, STSC members share something around a set theme. This cycle, the theme was “Growth”.
If you are a writer, you might consider joining us.
Also, special thanks and a shout-out to Tarapalita who graciously agreed to read this text before publication and fixed my embarrassing Buddhism-related mistakes. Check out his Substack, Red Buddha Blueprints.
Best,
Ꙝ.
I never thought I would feel sorry for any of Putin’s entourage, but now I do.
I need to read "Siddhartha" after all-thank you