Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (/ˈpuːtɪn/; Russian: Влади́мир Влади́мирович Пу́тин, IPA: [vɫɐ Vladimir Putin ˈdʲimʲɪr vɫɐˈdʲimʲɪrəvʲɪtɕ ˈputʲɪn] ( listen); born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer serving as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 2000 until 2008.[3][4][5] He was Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 until the beginning of his first presidency in 2000, and again between presidencies from 2008 until 2012.[6] During his first term as Prime Minister, he served as Acting President of Russia due to the resignation of President Boris Yeltsin.[7] During his second term as Prime Minister, he was the chairman of the rulingUnited Russia party.[3] Putin was born in Leningrad in the Soviet Union. He studied law at Leningrad State University, graduating in 1975.[8] Putin was a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before resigning in 1991 to enter politics in Saint Petersburg. He moved to Moscow in 1996 and joined President Boris Yeltsin's administration, rising quickly through the ranks and becoming Acting President on 31 December 1999, when Yeltsin resigned. Putin won the 2000 presidential election by a 53% to 30% margin, thus avoiding a runoff with his Communist Party of the Russian Federation opponent, Gennady Zyuganov.[9] He was reelected president in 2004 with 72% of the vote. During his first presidency, the Russian economy grew for eight straight years, and GDP measured in purchasing power increased by 72%.[10][11] The growth was a result of the 2000s commodities boom, [12][13] high oil prices, and prudent economic and fiscal policies. Because of constitutionally mandated President of Russia term limits, Putin was ineligible to run for a third consecutive presidential term in 2008. The 2008 Incumbent presidential election was won by Dmitry Medvedev, who appointed Putin as Prime Minister, the beginning of what some opponents considered to be a period of tandemocracy" ".[14] Assumed office 7 May 2012 [15] In September 2011, after presidential terms were extended from four to six years, Putin announced he Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov would seek a third term as president. He won the March 2012 presidential election with 64% of the vote, (Acting) [16] a result which aligned with pre-election polling. Falling oil prices coupled with international Dmitry Medvedev sanctions imposed at the beginning of 2014 after Russia's annexation of Crimea and military intervention Preceded by Dmitry Medvedev in Eastern Ukraine led to GDP shrinking by 3.7% in 2015, though the Russian economy rebounded in 2016 with 0.3% GDP growth and is officially out of the recession.[17][18][19][20] Putin gained 76% of the In office March 2018 presidential vote and was re-elected for a six-year term that will end in 2024.[21] 7 May 2000 – 7 May 2008 Acting: 31 December 1999 – 7 May 2000 Under Putin's leadership, Russia has scored poorly in Transparency International's Corruption Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov Perceptions Index and experienced democratic backsliding according to both the Economist Intelligence Viktor Khristenko Unit's Democracy Index and Freedom House's Freedom in the World index (including a record low (Acting) 20/100 rating in the 2017 Freedom in the World report, a rating not given since the time of the Soviet Mikhail Fradkov Union). Experts no longer consider Russia to be a democracy, citing the lack of free and fair elections, Viktor Zubkov purges and jailing of opponents, and curtailed press freedom.[22][23][24][25][26] Human rights Preceded by Boris Yeltsin organizations and activists have accused Putin of persecuting political critics and activists, as well as ordering them tortured or assassinated; he has rejected accusations of human rights abuses.[27] Officials Succeeded by Dmitry Medvedev of the United States government have accused him of leading an interference program against Hillary Prime Minister of Russia Clinton in support of Donald Trump during the U.S. presidential election in 2016, which both Trump and In office [28][29][30] Putin have frequently denied and criticized. Putin has had domestic approval ratings above 8 May 2008 – 7 May 2012 60% since taking office in 1999. President Dmitry Medvedev First Deputy Sergei Ivanov Viktor Zubkov Contents Igor Shuvalov Early life Preceded by Viktor Zubkov KGB career Succeeded by Dmitry Medvedev Political career In office 1990–1996: Saint Petersburg administration 16 August 1999 – 7 May 2000 1996–1999: Early Moscow career 1999: First premiership Acting: 9 August 1999 – 16 August 1999 1999–2000: Acting presidency President Boris Yeltsin 2000–2004: First presidential term First Deputy Nikolai Aksyonenko 2004–2008: Second presidential term 2008–2012: Second premiership Viktor Khristenko 2012–2018: Third presidential term Mikhail Kasyanov 2018–present: Fourth presidential term Preceded by Sergei Stepashin Domestic policies Economic, industrial, and energy policies Succeeded by Mikhail Kasyanov Environmental policy Leader of All-Russia People's Front Religious policy Incumbent Military development Human rights policy Assumed office The media 12 June 2013 Promoting conservatism Preceded by office established International sporting events Chairman of the Council of Ministers Wildlife protection and conservation of the Union State of Russia and Foreign policy Belarus Relations with South and East Asia Relations with post-Soviet states In office Relations with the United States, Europe, and NATO 27 May 2008 – 18 July 2012 Relations with the United Kingdom General Secretary Pavel Borodin Relations with Australia and Latin American countries Relations with Middle Eastern and North African countries Preceded by Viktor Zubkov BRICS Summit Succeeded by Dmitry Medvedev Public image Leader of United Russia Polls and rankings In office Assessments Personal image 7 May 2008 – 26 May 2012 Publication recognition in the United States Preceded by Boris Gryzlov Putinisms Succeeded by Dmitry Medvedev Electoral history First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Personal life Family In office Personal wealth 9 August 1999 – 16 August 1999 Residences President Boris Yeltsin Pets Preceded by Viktor Khristenko Religion Sports Succeeded by Mikhail Kasyanov Honours Secretary of the Security Council Civilian awards presented by different countries In office Honorary doctorates 9 March 1999 – 9 August 1999 Other awards Recognition Preceded by Nikolay Bordyuzha Ancestry Succeeded by Sergei Ivanov References Director of the Federal Security Further reading Service External links In office Personal links 25 July 1998 – 29 March 1999 Political links Preceded by Nikolay Kovalyov News links Succeeded by Nikolai Patrushev Personal details Early life Born Vladimir Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born on 7 October 1952 in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union Vladimirovich Putin (now Saint Petersburg),[31][32] the youngest of three children of Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin (1911– 7 October 1952 1999) and Maria Ivanovna Putina (née Shelomova; 1911–1998). His birth was preceded by the death of Leningrad, Russian two brothers, Viktor and Albert, born in the mid-1930s. Albert died in infancy and Viktor died of SFSR, Soviet Union diphtheria during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II.[33] Putin's mother was a factory worker and Political party All-Russia People's his father was a conscript in the Soviet Navy, serving in the submarine fleet in the early 1930s. Early in Front (2011– World War II, his father served in the destruction battalion of the NKVD.[34][35][36] Later, he was present) transferred to the regular army and was severely wounded in 1942.[37] Putin's maternal grandmother was Independent (1991– killed by the German occupiers of Tver region in 1941, and his maternal uncles disappeared at the war 95; 2001–08; 2012– front.[38] present) Other political Communist Party of On 1 September 1960, Putin started at School No. 193 at Baskov Lane, near his home. He was one of a affiliations the Soviet Union few in the class of approximately 45 pupils who was not yet a member of the Young Pioneer (1975–91) organization. At age 12, he began to practicesambo and judo. He is a Judo black belt and national master Our Home – Russia of sports in Sambo. He wished to emulate the intelligence officers portrayed in Soviet cinema.[39] Putin (1995–99) studied German at Saint Petersburg High School 281 and speaks German fluently.[40][41] Unity (1999–2001) United Russia Putin studied Law at the Leningrad State University (now Saint Petersburg State University) in 1970 and (2008–2012)[1] graduated in 1975.[8] His thesis was on "The Most Favored Nation Trading Principle in International [42] Spouse(s) Lyudmila Putina Law". While there, he was required to join the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and remained a (m. 1983; div. 2014) member until December 1991.[43] Putin met Anatoly Sobchak, an assistant professor who taught Children Maria · Katerina business law (khozyaystvennoye pravo), and who would be influential in Putin's career.[44] Residence Novo-Ogaryovo, KGB career Moscow, Russia Alma mater Saint Petersburg In 1975, Putin joined the KGB and trained at the 401st KGB school in Okhta, Leningrad.[31][45] After State University training, he worked in the Second Chief Directorate (counter-intelligence), before he was transferred to Awards Order of the First Chief Directorate, where he monitored foreigners and consular officials in Leningrad.[31][46][47] Honour From 1985 to 1990, he served in Dresden, East