Russian President Vladimir Putin: A Biography In-brief
Early Life and Education
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Soviet Union. His father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, was a conscript in the Soviet Navy, and his mother, Maria Ivanovna Putina, was a factory worker. Putin was their third son; his two older brothers died in infancy and during the Siege of Leningrad, respectively.
Education and Early Career:
Primary and Secondary Education: Putin attended Leningrad’s School No. 193, where he developed an interest in sports, particularly judo and sambo, achieving a black belt in judo.
University: In 1970, he enrolled at Leningrad State University (LSU) to study law. During his time at LSU, he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and graduated in 1975 with a thesis on "The Most Favored Nation Trading Principle in International Law".
KGB Career
KGB Recruitment and Training:
After graduating, Putin was recruited by the KGB, the Soviet Union's main security agency. He attended the 401st KGB school in Okhta, Leningrad, and later underwent further training at the Yuri Andropov Red Banner Institute in Moscow.
Assignments:
Early Assignments: Putin's early career in the KGB involved various assignments, including counterintelligence and surveillance. He worked in Leningrad for several years before being sent abroad.
Dresden, East Germany: From 1985 to 1990, Putin served in Dresden, East Germany, under the cover of a translator. His role primarily involved monitoring the loyalty of East German officials and gathering intelligence on NATO activities.
Transition to Politics
Return to Leningrad:
Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, Putin returned to Leningrad. He resigned from the KGB in 1991 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Early Political Career:
Anatoly Sobchak’s Administration: In 1991, Putin became an advisor to Anatoly Sobchak, the mayor of Leningrad (Saint Petersburg). He quickly rose through the ranks to become the head of the Committee for External Relations, responsible for attracting foreign investment.
First Deputy Mayor: In 1994, he was appointed First Deputy Mayor of Saint Petersburg, a position that allowed him to gain substantial political experience and establish a network of influential contacts.
Rise to National Prominence
Move to Moscow:
In 1996, following Sobchak’s electoral defeat, Putin moved to Moscow and joined the presidential administration under President Boris Yeltsin. He initially served as Deputy Chief of Presidential Property Management.
Federal Security Service (FSB):
In 1998, Putin was appointed head of the FSB, the main successor agency to the KGB. His tenure at the FSB was marked by efforts to combat organized crime and corruption.
Prime Minister:
In August 1999, Yeltsin appointed Putin as Prime Minister of Russia. His popularity surged following a series of apartment bombings in Russian cities, which were blamed on Chechen separatists, and Putin’s subsequent decisive military response.
Presidency
First and Second Terms (2000-2008):
First Term: On December 31, 1999, Yeltsin resigned, and Putin became Acting President. He won the presidential election in March 2000 with 53% of the vote. His first term focused on stabilizing the Russian economy, centralizing power, and combating terrorism.
Second Term: Re-elected in 2004 with 71% of the vote, Putin continued his policies of economic reform and political centralization. He implemented measures to strengthen the state’s control over key industries, particularly in the energy sector.
Prime Minister (2008-2012):
Due to constitutional term limits, Putin did not run for a third consecutive term. Instead, his ally Dmitry Medvedev became President, and Putin served as Prime Minister. During this period, he maintained significant influence over Russian politics and policy.
Return to Presidency
Third Term (2012-2018):
Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 after winning the election with 63.6% of the vote. His third term was marked by a crackdown on political dissent, the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and increased tensions with the West.
Crimea and Sanctions: The annexation of Crimea led to international condemnation and sanctions from Western countries, significantly impacting the Russian economy.
Fourth Term (2018-Present):
In 2018, Putin was re-elected for a fourth term with 76.7% of the vote. His recent years in office have focused on constitutional reforms, further centralization of power, and efforts to mitigate the effects of economic sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Constitutional Amendments: In 2020, a nationwide referendum approved constitutional amendments allowing Putin to potentially remain in power until 2036 by resetting his presidential term limits.
Personal Life
Family:
Marriage: Putin married Lyudmila Shkrebneva in 1983. The couple has two daughters, Maria and Katerina.
Divorce: Putin and Lyudmila announced their divorce in 2013 after 30 years of marriage.
Hobbies and Interests:
Putin is known for his athleticism, particularly his interest in judo and ice hockey. He also enjoys outdoor activities such as fishing, horseback riding, and skiing.
Legacy and Influence
Domestic Influence:
Putin's tenure has been marked by efforts to restore Russia’s prominence on the global stage, centralize political power, and stabilize the economy. However, his administration has also faced criticism for human rights abuses, suppression of political opposition, and allegations of corruption.
International Relations:
Putin’s foreign policy has aimed to reassert Russian influence in former Soviet states, challenge Western hegemony, and forge strategic partnerships with countries like China and Iran. His approach has led to both increased international standing and significant geopolitical tensions.