A sexy Russian songbird came out of nowhere yesterday to claim she plays the starring role of “other woman” in the ongoing Mel Gibson soap opera.
“This is serious and I hope that our union will be real and strong and long-lasting,” Oksana Po chepa told a Russian news serv ice, in comments carried in Brit ish newspapers yesterday.
The 24-year-old temptress in sisted she’s the reason the actor left his wife, adding, “I don’t know how long it will last, as we are different people.
“But Mel is a grown man and knows precisely what he wants.”
The singer’s publicist, Yelena Samoilova, said from Moscow, “She doesn’t want any distrac tions from her tour in Germany,” but promised, “She will tell all in a press conference on April 21.”
In an interview published this morning in a Russian paper, Po chepa said, “No, I am not deny ing that I have a relationship with Mel. But I don’t want to talk about it in detail yet.”
Since the news broke Mon day that Gibson — a devout Catholic — and his wife, Robyn, had both filed for divorce after 28 years of marriage, speculation has raged over whether there’s a new woman in his life.
If nothing else, Po chepa can claim the title of Oksana III.
She’s the fifth woman — and third “Oksana” — linked to 53-year-old Gibson this week:
* Oksana the First popped up in Boston earlier this year, spending time with Gibson in his trailer as he shot his latest movie, “Edge of Darkness.” The woman, whose last name is unknown, doesn’t resemble Pochepa — who, coincidentally, also claims to have been with Gibson in Boston.
* Oksana “the Second” Kolesnikova, 31, denied she’s a girlfriend of Gibson’s after her name surfaced.
“I have no idea how this mistake was made. I feel very upset,” said Kolesnikova, who is married and pregnant. “The only explanation is that the names Oksana have been confused. It is a very popular name in Russia.”
* Photographers captured Gibson walking barefoot in the sand, sharing a laugh with a middle-aged blonde near his Costa Rica ranch.
* Other pictures emerged of Gibson hugging a mystery brunette with her back to the camera, also in Costa Rica.
Gibson’s rep declined comment.
Robyn Gibson, 52, and her husband, who’s worth about $1 billion, have been separated for three years, but still both live in Malibu, sources said.
California is a no-fault, community-property state, meaning fidelity is irrelevant and assets are split 50/50.