The Malay Sultan and His Russian Beauty Separate

Published July 17th, 2019 - 07:56 GMT
Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan, 50, and Rihana Oksana Voevodina, 27 (Twitter)
Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan, 50, and Rihana Oksana Voevodina, 27 (Twitter)
Highlights
The divorce was registered as final on July 1, the New Straits Times reported today in Kuala Lumpur.

The former Malaysian king has divorced his Russian beauty queen wife just weeks after the birth of their son, it is reported today.

This comes despite the former Miss Moscow and reality TV star saying how happy she in her fairy-tale marriage in recent social media postings.

The surprise wedding of Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan, 50, and Rihana Oksana Voevodina, 27, in the Russian capital last November had stunned Malaysians.

But now a divorce certificate indicates the former king, who quit the monarchy after lurid revelations were made public in her homeland over his wife's 'sex in the pool' antics in a reality TV show, has ended the relationship.

The divorce was registered as final on July 1, the New Straits Times reported today in Kuala Lumpur.

The certificate, bearing the Kelantan state crest, indicates that the divorce was done through the utterance of the word 'talak' three times - the most severe and irreversible form of divorce in Islam.

The certificate is the copy given to the wife, it is claimed. It is in her original surname - Gorbatenko.

The date of the divorce was listed as June 22 and it was marked as taking place in Singapore. The couple's son was born on 21 May.

The couple wed on 7 June last year in a Muslim ceremony which was not made public. Their relationship came to light when they held a lavish second wedding in a Moscow concert hall.

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So far there is no comment on social media from the Russian bride.

There was speculation in January that the marriage was foundering which was denied by her father Andrei Gorbatenko, an orthopaedic surgeon, who said:'It's nonsense. I do not read the Internet, but I would have been the first to know.'

The Kelantan palace has not commented on the divorce reports.

But on Wednesday it issued a a statement rebuking the practice of referring to certain individuals as 'Permaisuri of Kelantan', 'Raja Perempuan Kelantan', 'Sultanah Kelantan' or 'Queen of Kelantan' without official approval from the palace.

This was seen as hitting back at reports referring to Oksana - also called Rihana - as a 'queen' or other royal titles.

The New Straits Times reported: 'The cause of the couple's divorce remains the subject of speculation, although a copy of the divorce certificate that was circulating online — confirmed by a source to be genuine — seems to hint at a serious matter because it was a 'talak tiga' divorce.

'Also known as talaq baayin, or the irrevocable divorce, it is the most severe divorce in Islam.'

In a recent post the ex-Miss Moscow writes in English and Russian that she believes her son, born in May, will one day become 'king of Malaysia'.

In a separate posting in local language Malay, she says her son should be the future king of Kelantan - the province where her husband is ruler despite his abdication of the national throne.

She last posted a picture with her husband on 6 July - and is also seen pushing a pram with her baby in a Malaysian palace.

She also gave apparently warm details - not previously revealed - of their meeting.

But she made one posting on 9 June that could be seen as ambiguous - or high critical of her husband.

She wrote: 'The man who really loves his woman will do everything for his beloved one.

'Love and taking care is the base for strong and healthy relationship.

'A good husband will always support and be nice with his wife.

'Always is interested how does she feel and takes care of her, if she is tired.
'Always 100% keeps his promises.

'Always takes responsibility for the family and doesn't put this responsibility on his wife's shoulders.

'During pregnancy he would give his wife increased attention, gifts and care.

'Relationships are based on how can people support and understand each other.

'Family is the result of the work of two people who can give love gratuitously.'

Initially this posting was seen as praising her husband - but in the light of the divorce report - which is seen as genuine in Malaysia - her words as be seen as a barbed criticism of his failings.

Russian actress Yana Samsuddin asked Voevodina online: 'Hiye, queen, we heard rumours u guys separated….Is this true?'

The former beauty queen did not reply but another commenter claiming to be a palace inside said the king dropped her after videos and details of their relationship hit the Russian media.

'He didn't like it,' said the posting.

She is described as a 'leech' who wanted to put on a 'glass slipper that doesn't belong to her.'  

This article has been adapted from its original source.    

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