Putin in St Petersburg: Tracing the Russian president's younger days

Nezhinskij, a historian and tour guide, showing a picture of a young Putin while driving around St Petersburg during a tour. Photos: Ulf Mauder/dpa

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes pride in his native city, St Petersburg. And special tours offer a glimpse into the longtime leader's ties to the metropolis on the Gulf of Finland.

"I don't offer gossip on the private life of Putin, on the number of his illegitimate children," Yuri Nezhinskij clarifies right at the start. The historian notes that he has a doctorate and only works with original sources.