Russian President Vladimir Putin's admission on state TV that he and his wife Lyudmila had separated came as no surprise for many Russians.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOSCOW STUDENT ANNA SAYING:<br/> <br />"Honestly I thought it was known for quite a while, there were rumours that they have not been together, they did not show up together for a long time. It was just a formality because he is a state official, but in reality they were not together."<br/> <br />Still, some said he should not have had to make what was private public.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOSCOW RESIDENT NATALIA SAYING:<br/> <br />"So what? It is his private affair, it does not matter that he is a top official. It is his personal matter, it is his life, I hope it will be better for him, if he thinks so. Together or not, I wish happiness both to him and to her"<br/> <br />Married three decades ago, the Putins have made only rare, sometimes awkward appearances together in recent years. Some said the president should revealed his separa
