In a new biography, political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky has alleged that Vladimir Putin’s traumatic childhood coupled with suppressed homosexual tendencies is the reason for his tyranny.

The book has caused outrage in Russia by claiming that the president is a “deeply lonely politician who almost had to be forced into the presidency” and that he was a withdrawn child who “grew up practically without a father and without the love and care of his parents.”

The book also alleges that a supposed affair with Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva was a PR stunt to hide the true sexuality of the notoriously anti-gay president.

Although Belkovsky does not give any definitive proof, he references Putin’s status as an unwilling “gay icon” due to his many topless “macho” publicity photos.

According to the author, it was a 2007 photoshoot with Prince Albert of Monaco that apparently established Putin’s reputation as a “gay icon”.

Belkovsky says it was a “truly erotic photo session in which Putin and Prince Albert of Monaco posed topless with their fishing rods in their hands.”

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for President Putin has dismissed the claim, stating, “Belkovsky’s remarks are lacking any basis, or as we say it in Russia: They are total rubbish.”