Donald Trump Jr and his new wife Bettina have confirmed that a Russian oligarch with close ties to President Vladimir Putin partially funded celebrations following their wedding.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Bettina Trump described Umar Kremlev as a “dear friend,” who “very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding.”

“It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful,” the couple said.

Their statement followed a ProPublica report that Kremlev paid hundreds of thousands of dollars towards celebrations in the Bahamas, including renting one of two private islands used for the three-day event and funding a fireworks display.

The couple said they had married privately “surrounded ONLY by our family,” before joining a previously planned weekend with friends.

“It’s unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is or where they come from,” their statement said.

Kremlev, who heads the International Boxing Association, was recently awarded Russia’s Order of Friendship by Putin, according to the organisation.

He also accompanied Putin to China as part of a Russian delegation, according to Chinese state media cited by ProPublica.