# Kharlamov missed the shoot for a valid reason: the artist has become a father Russian humorist Garik Kharlamov has become a father for the second time. His colleagues Azamat Musagaliev and Denis Dorokhov announced the joyful news in a new episode of the show "By the Way." Kharlamov did not appear on set, and the hosts were quick to explain to the audience the reason for his absence. "It happened today. Garik is not here, but there is a valid reason for that today. Our Garik is becoming a dad right now," Musagaliev announced. Dorokhov added to the statement with a joke: "Not in the sense that he is just starting out — this is already a nine-month result." ## For Kovalchuk, this is the first child For 32-year-old actress Ekaterina Kovalchuk, the newborn is her first child. 45-year-old Kharlamov already has a 12-year-old daughter, Anastasia, who was born during his marriage to actress Kristina Asmus. Kovalchuk's pregnancy was not officially discussed for a long time by the couple. Rumors of an impending addition emerged in the summer after the actress appeared in public with a noticeably rounded belly. In recent days, the media reported that Kovalchuk was in a maternity hospital. However, until Kharlamov's colleagues made their announcement, there had been no official news about the arrival of the baby. ## Parents remain silent for now At the time of publication, Garik Kharlamov and Ekaterina Kovalchuk had not personally confirmed the birth of the baby on social media. The gender, name, and other details are also not yet disclosed. Therefore, the information is based on the words of the humorist's colleagues. It is likely that the couple decided to spend time with the newborn away from the media's attention. ## Several years of relationship and marriage Kharlamov and Kovalchuk met while filming the series "Hussar." Their romance became known in 2021, although at first, the artists tried not to publicize their relationship. In the summer of 2024, the couple officially registered their marriage. For Kharlamov, this union is his third, while for Kovalchuk, it is her first. The spouses had previously not hidden that they would like to have a child together. Kharlamov publicly admitted that he was ready to experience the joy of fatherhood again. The news of the addition to the star family was first reported by Garik Kharlamov's colleagues. For Ekaterina Kovalchuk, this is her first experience of motherhood, while for the humorist, it is his second experience of fatherhood. Now fans are left waiting for a personal statement from the couple and the first details about the newborn.
