|
|
| (16 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | | {{Era|Individuals}}{{WP-REAL}} |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| {{Era|Individuals}} | |
| {{WP-REAL}} | |
| [[File:BorisYeltsin.jpg|thumb|250px|Vladimir Putin (second from the left) with Boris Yeltsin]] | | [[File:BorisYeltsin.jpg|thumb|250px|Vladimir Putin (second from the left) with Boris Yeltsin]] |
| '''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' (born 7 October 1952) is the fourth and current President of [[Russia]], from 2000 to 2008 and again from 2012 to the present. He previously | | '''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' (Russian: Владимир Владимирович Путин; born 7 October 1952) is the fourth and current President of [[Russia]], serving from 2000 to 2008 and again from 2012 to the present. He previously served as Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012. Before his political career, he was known as one of the greatest agents of the {{Wiki|KGB}}, the Russian secret police. |
|
| |
|
| In May 1990, Putin was appointed as an advisor on international affairs to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor Mayor] of Leningrad [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatoly_Sobchak Anatoly Sobchak]. In a 2017 interview with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Stone Oliver Stone], Putin said that he resigned from the KGB in 1991, following the coup against Mikhail Gorbachev, as he did not agree with what had happened and did not want to be part of the intelligence in the new administration. He described this in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Putin_Interviews "The Putin interviews"].<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-52 [51]]</sup>
| | ==Biography== |
| | Putin's political career was secretly supported and influenced by [[Abstergo Industries]], who helped put his friend, mentor and predecessor [[Boris Yeltsin]] in power in 1991. In September 1999, {{Wiki|Chechens|Chechen}} terrorists {{Wiki|Russian apartment bombings|bombed apartment buildings}} in the Russian cities of {{Wiki|Buynaksk}}, [[Moscow]], and {{Wiki|Volgodonsk}}. Secretly orchestrated by Abstergo, these bombings boosted Putin's popularity as a presidential candidate ahead of the 2000 election.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Rifts#Cluster 6|Rifts: Cluster 6]]</ref> |
|
| |
|
| On 28 June 1991, he became head of the Committee for External Relations of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg_City_Administration Mayor's Office], with responsibility for promoting international relations and foreign investments<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-53 [52]]</sup> and registering business ventures. Within a year, Putin was investigated by the city legislative council led by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Salye Marina Salye]. It was concluded that he had understated prices and permitted the export of metals valued at $93 million in exchange for foreign food aid that never arrived.<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-54 [53]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-55 [54]]</sup> Despite the investigators' recommendation that Putin be fired, Putin remained head of the Committee for External Relations until 1996.<sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-56 [55]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-57 [56]]</sup> From 1994 to 1996, he held several other political and governmental positions in Saint Petersburg.<sup id="cite_ref-30bio_58-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-30bio-58 [57]]</sup>
| | ==Appearances== |
| | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' {{c|photo only}} |
|
| |
|
| In March 1994, Putin was appointed as First Deputy Chairman of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Saint_Petersburg Government of Saint Petersburg]. In May 1995, he organized the Saint Petersburg branch of the pro-government [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Home_%E2%80%93_Russia Our Home – Russia] political party, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism_in_Russia liberal] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_power party of power] founded by Prime Minister [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Chernomyrdin Viktor Chernomyrdin]. In 1995, he managed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_legislative_election,_1995 legislative election campaign] for that party, and from 1995 through June 1997, he was the leader of its Saint Petersburg branch.<sup id="cite_ref-30bio_58-1" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-30bio-58 [57]]</sup>
| | ==References== |
| ===1996–1999: Early Moscow career===
| | {{Reflist}} |
| In June 1996 Sobchak lost his bid for reelection in Saint Petersburg, so Putin moved to Moscow and was appointed as Deputy Chief of the [https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A3%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8_%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%A4%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8 Presidential Property Management Department] headed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Borodin Pavel Borodin]. He occupied this position until March 1997. During his tenure, Putin was responsible for the foreign property of the state and organized the transfer of the former assets of the Soviet Union and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPSU Communist Party] to the Russian Federation.<sup id="cite_ref-Vlast_40-1" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Vlast-40 [39]]</sup>
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RIAN_archive_100306_Vladimir_Putin,_Federal_Security_Service_Director.jpg] Putin as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Security_Service FSB] director, 1998On 26 March 1997, President [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Yeltsin Boris Yeltsin] appointed Putin deputy chief of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_presidential_administration Presidential Staff], which he remained until May 1998, and chief of the Main Control Directorate of the Presidential Property Management Department (until June 1998). His predecessor on this position was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexei_Kudrin Alexei Kudrin] and the successor was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Patrushev Nikolai Patrushev], both future prominent politicians and Putin's associates.<sup id="cite_ref-Vlast_40-2" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Vlast-40 [39]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| On 27 June 1997, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg_Mining_Institute Saint Petersburg Mining Institute], guided by rector [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Litvinenko Vladimir Litvinenko], Putin defended his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidate_of_Science Candidate of Science] dissertation in economics, titled "The Strategic Planning of Regional Resources Under the Formation of Market Relations".<sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-59 [58]]</sup> This exemplified the custom in Russia for a rising young official to write a scholarly work in mid-career.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-60 [59]]</sup> When Putin later became president, the dissertation became a target of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism plagiarism] accusations by fellows at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookings_Institution Brookings Institution]; although the dissertation was referenced,<sup id="cite_ref-cdi.org_61-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-cdi.org-61 [60]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-kommersant-dissertation_62-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-kommersant-dissertation-62 [61]]</sup> the Brookings fellows asserted that it constituted plagiarism albeit perhaps unintentional.<sup id="cite_ref-cdi.org_61-1" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-cdi.org-61 [60]]</sup> The dissertation committee denied the accusations.<sup id="cite_ref-kommersant-dissertation_62-1" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-kommersant-dissertation-62 [61]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-63" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-63 [62]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| On 25 May 1998, Putin was appointed First Deputy Chief of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_presidential_administration Presidential Staff] for regions, replacing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktoriya_Mitina Viktoriya Mitina]; and, on 15 July, he was appointed head of the commission for the preparation of agreements on the delimitation of power of regions and the federal center attached to the president, replacing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Shakhray Sergey Shakhray]. After Putin's appointment, the commission completed no such agreements, although during Shakhray's term as the Head of the Commission 46 agreements were signed.<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-64 [63]]</sup> Later, after becoming president, Putin canceled all those agreements.<sup id="cite_ref-Vlast_40-3" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Vlast-40 [39]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| On 25 July 1998, Yeltsin appointed Putin as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Director_of_FSB Director] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Security_Service Federal Security Service] (FSB), the primary intelligence and security organization of the Russian Federation and the successor to the KGB.<sup id="cite_ref-RosefieldeHedlund2009_65-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-RosefieldeHedlund2009-65 [64]]</sup>
| |
| ===1999: First premiership===
| |
| Main article: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin%27s_First_Cabinet Vladimir Putin's First Cabinet]On 9 August 1999, Putin was appointed one of three First Deputy Prime Ministers, and later on that day, was appointed acting Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation by President Yeltsin.<sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-66 [65]]</sup> Yeltsin also announced that he wanted to see Putin as his successor. Later on that same day, Putin agreed to run for the presidency.<sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-67 [66]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| On 16 August, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Duma State Duma] approved his appointment as Prime Minister with 233 votes in favor (vs. 84 against, 17 abstained),<sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-68 [67]]</sup> while a simple majority of 226 was required, making him Russia's fifth PM in fewer than eighteen months. On his appointment, few expected Putin, virtually unknown to the general public, to last any longer than his predecessors. He was initially regarded as a Yeltsin loyalist; like other prime ministers of Boris Yeltsin, Putin did not choose ministers himself, his cabinet was determined by the presidential administration.<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-69 [68]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| Yeltsin's main opponents and would-be successors were already campaigning to replace the ailing president, and they fought hard to prevent Putin's emergence as a potential successor. Following the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_apartment_bombings Russian apartment bombings], Putin's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_and_order_(politics) law-and-order] image and his unrelenting approach to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Chechen_War Second Chechen War] against the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechen_Republic_of_Ichkeria Chechen Republic of Ichkeria], soon combined to raise Putin's popularity and allowed him to overtake all rivals.
| |
| | |
| While not formally associated with any party, Putin pledged his support to the newly formed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_(Russian_political_party) Unity Party],<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-70 [69]]</sup> which won the second largest percentage of the popular vote (23.3%) in the December 1999 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duma Duma] elections, and in turn he was supported by it.
| |
| ===1999–2000: Acting presidency===
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Putin_31_December_1999-3.jpg] Putin in 1999On 31 December 1999, Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned and, according to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Russia Constitution of Russia], Putin became [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acting_President_of_the_Russian_Federation Acting President of the Russian Federation]. On assuming this role, Putin went on a previously scheduled visit to Russian troops in Chechnya.<sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-71 [70]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| The first [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decree_of_the_President_of_Russia Presidential Decree] that Putin signed, on 31 December 1999, was titled "On guarantees for former president of the Russian Federation and members of his family".<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-72 [71]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-73 [72]]</sup> This ensured that "corruption charges against the outgoing President and his relatives" would not be pursued.<sup id="cite_ref-Time.com-POTY2007_74-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Time.com-POTY2007-74 [73]]</sup> This was most notably targeted at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabetex_Group Mabetex] bribery case in which Yeltsin's family members were involved. On 30 August 2000, a criminal investigation (number 18/238278-95) was dropped in which Putin himself was one of the suspects<sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-75 [74]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-76 [75]]</sup> as a member of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg Saint Petersburg] city government. On 30 December 2000, yet another case against the prosecutor general was dropped "for lack of evidence", in spite of thousands of documents passed by Swiss prosecution.<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-77 [76]]</sup> On 12 February 2001, Putin signed a similar [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_law federal law] which replaced the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decree_of_the_President_of_Russia decree] of 1999. The case of Putin's alleged corruption in metal exports from 1992 was brought back by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Salye Marina Salye], but she was silenced and forced to leave Saint Petersburg.<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-78 [77]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| While his opponents had been preparing for an election in June 2000, Yeltsin's resignation resulted in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_presidential_election,_2000 Presidential elections] being held within three months, on 26 March 2000; Putin won in the first round with 53% of the vote.<sup id="cite_ref-elections-history_79-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-elections-history-79 [78]]</sup>
| |
| ===2000–2004: First presidential term===
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Putin_and_Yeltsin_cropped.jpg] Putin taking presidential oath beside [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Yeltsin Boris Yeltsin], May 2000The inauguration of President Putin occurred on 7 May 2000. Putin appointed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Finance_(Russia) Minister of Finance], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Kasyanov Mikhail Kasyanov], as the Prime Minister.
| |
| | |
| The first major challenge to Putin's popularity came in August 2000, when he was criticized for the alleged mishandling of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kursk_submarine_disaster ''Kursk'' submarine disaster].<sup id="cite_ref-Kursk_80-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Kursk-80 [79]]</sup> That criticism was largely because it was several days before Putin returned from vacation, and several more before he visited the scene.<sup id="cite_ref-Kursk_80-1" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Kursk-80 [79]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| Between 2000 and 2004, Putin set about the reconstruction of the impoverished condition of the country, apparently winning a power-struggle with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_oligarch Russian oligarchs], reaching a 'grand bargain' with them. This bargain allowed the oligarchs to maintain most of their powers, in exchange for their explicit support for—and alignment with—Putin's government.<sup id="cite_ref-81" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-81 [80]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-82" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-82 [81]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| In 2003, a referendum was held in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechnya Chechnya], adopting a new constitution which declares that the Republic of Chechnya is a part of Russia; on the other hand, the region did acquire autonomy.<sup id="cite_ref-83" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-83 [82]]</sup> Chechnya has been gradually stabilized with the establishment of the Parliamentary elections and a Regional Government.<sup id="cite_ref-84" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-84 [83]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-85" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-85 [84]]</sup> Throughout the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Chechen_War Second Chechen War], Russia severely disabled the Chechen rebel movement; however, sporadic attacks by rebels continued to occur throughout the northern Caucasus.<sup id="cite_ref-86" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-86 [85]]</sup>
| |
| ===2004–2008: Second presidential term===
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Victory_Day_Parade_2005-26.jpg] Vladimir Putin with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junichiro_Koizumi Junichiro Koizumi], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Chirac Jacques Chirac], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerhard_Schr%C3%B6der Gerhard Schröder], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvio_Berlusconi Silvio Berlusconi], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush George W. Bush] and other state leaders in Moscow, 9 May 2005<sup id="cite_ref-87" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-87 [86]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-88" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-88 [87]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-89" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-89 [88]]</sup>On 14 March 2004, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_presidential_election,_2004 Putin was elected] to the presidency for a second term, receiving 71% of the vote.<sup id="cite_ref-elections-history_79-1" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-elections-history-79 [78]]</sup> The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beslan_school_hostage_crisis Beslan school hostage crisis] took place in September 2004, in which hundreds died. Many in the Russian press and in the international media warned that the death of 130 hostages in the special forces' rescue operation during the 2002 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_theater_hostage_crisis Moscow theater hostage crisis] would severely damage President Putin's popularity. However, shortly after the siege had ended, the Russian president enjoyed record public approval ratings – 83% of Russians declared themselves satisfied with Putin and his handling of the siege.<sup id="cite_ref-90" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-90 [89]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| The near 10-year period prior to the rise of Putin after the dissolution of Soviet rule was a time of upheaval in Russia.<sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-91 [90]]</sup> In a 2005 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kremlin Kremlin] speech, Putin characterized the collapse of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union Soviet Union] as the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the Twentieth Century."<sup id="cite_ref-92" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-92 [91]]</sup> Putin elaborated "Moreover, the epidemic of disintegration infected Russia itself."<sup id="cite_ref-93" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-93 [92]]</sup> The country's cradle-to-grave [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_safety_net social safety net] was gone and life expectancy declined in the period preceding Putin's rule.<sup id="cite_ref-94" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-94 [93]]</sup> In 2005, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Priority_Projects National Priority Projects] were launched to improve Russia's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Russia health care], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Russia education], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_estate_in_Russia housing] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Russia agriculture].<sup id="cite_ref-bofit_95-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-bofit-95 [94]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-bbc-demography_96-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-bbc-demography-96 [95]]</sup>
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Putin_8_March_2008-3.jpg] Putin with Chancellor of Germany [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Merkel Angela Merkel] in March 2008The continued criminal prosecution of Russia's then richest man, President of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukos Yukos] oil and gas company [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Khodorkovsky Mikhail Khodorkovsky], for fraud and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_evasion tax evasion] was seen by the international press as a retaliation for Khodorkovsky's donations to both liberal and communist opponents of the Kremlin.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup> The government said that Khodorkovsky was "corrupting" a large segment of the Duma to prevent changes to the tax code.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup> Khodorkovsky was arrested, Yukos was bankrupted and the company's assets were auctioned at below-market value, with the largest share acquired by the state company [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosneft Rosneft].<sup id="cite_ref-97" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-97 [96]]</sup> The fate of Yukos was seen as a sign of a broader shift of Russia towards a system of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_capitalism state capitalism].<sup id="cite_ref-98" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-98 [97]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-99" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-99 [98]]</sup> This was underscored in July 2014 when shareholders of Yukos were awarded $50 billion in compensation by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_Court_of_Arbitration Permanent Arbitration Court] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hague The Hague].<sup id="cite_ref-YukosCase_100-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-YukosCase-100 [99]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| On 7 October 2006, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Politkovskaya Anna Politkovskaya], a journalist who exposed corruption in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Ground_Forces Russian army] and its conduct in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechnya Chechnya], was shot in the lobby of her apartment building, on Putin's birthday. The death of Politkovskaya triggered international criticism, with accusations that Putin has failed to protect the country's new independent media.<sup id="cite_ref-101" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-101 [100]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-102" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-102 [101]]</sup> Putin himself said that her death caused the government more problems than her writings.<sup id="cite_ref-103" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-103 [102]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| In 2007, "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissenters%27_March Dissenters' Marches]" were organized by the opposition group [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Other_Russia_(coalition) The Other Russia],<sup id="cite_ref-104" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-104 [103]]</sup> led by former chess champion [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry_Kasparov Garry Kasparov] and national-Bolshevist leader [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduard_Limonov Eduard Limonov]. Following prior warnings, demonstrations in several Russian cities were met by police action, which included interfering with the travel of the protesters and the arrests of as many as 150 people who attempted to break through police lines.<sup id="cite_ref-105" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-105 [104]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| On 12 September 2007, Putin dissolved the government upon the request of Prime Minister [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Fradkov Mikhail Fradkov]. Fradkov commented that it was to give the President a "free hand" in the run-up to the parliamentary election. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Zubkov Viktor Zubkov] was appointed the new prime minister.<sup id="cite_ref-106" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-106 [105]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| In December 2007, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Russia United Russia] won 64.24% of the popular vote in their run for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Duma State Duma] according to election preliminary results.<sup id="cite_ref-107" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-107 [106]]</sup> United Russia's victory in the December 2007 elections was seen by many as an indication of strong popular support of the then Russian leadership and its policies.<sup id="cite_ref-108" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-108 [107]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-109" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-109 [108]]</sup>
| |
| ===2008–2012: Second premiership=== | |
| Main article: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin%27s_Second_Cabinet Vladimir Putin's Second Cabinet]Putin was barred from a third consecutive term by the Constitution. First Deputy Prime Minister [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Medvedev Dmitry Medvedev] was elected his successor. In a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_power-switching_operation_2008 power-switching operation on 8 May 2008], only a day after handing the presidency to Medvedev, Putin was appointed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Russia Prime Minister of Russia], maintaining his political dominance.<sup id="cite_ref-110" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-110 [109]]</sup>
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Putin_11_March_2008-1.jpg] Putin with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Medvedev Dmitry Medvedev], March 2008Putin has said that overcoming the consequences of the world economic crisis was one of the two main achievements of his second Premiership.<sup id="cite_ref-bbc-demography_96-1" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-bbc-demography-96 [95]]</sup> The other was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Russia stabilizing the size of Russia's population] between 2008 and 2011 following a long period of demographic collapse that began in the 1990s.<sup id="cite_ref-bbc-demography_96-2" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-bbc-demography-96 [95]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| At the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Russia United Russia] Congress in Moscow on 24 September 2011, Medvedev officially proposed that Putin stand for the Presidency in 2012, an offer Putin accepted. Given United Russia's near-total dominance of Russian politics, many observers believed that Putin was assured of a third term. The move was expected to see Medvedev stand on the United Russia ticket in the parliamentary elections in December, with a goal of becoming Prime Minister at the end of his presidential term.<sup id="cite_ref-111" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-111 [110]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| After the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_legislative_election,_2011 parliamentary elections] on 4 December 2011, tens of thousands of Russians engaged in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Russian_protests protests] against alleged electoral fraud, the largest protests in Putin's time. Protesters criticized Putin and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Russia United Russia] and demanded annulment of the election results.<sup id="cite_ref-GuardLive_112-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-GuardLive-112 [111]]</sup> Those protests sparked the fear of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_revolution colour revolution] in society.<sup id="cite_ref-113" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-113 [112]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-rian-manezhnaya_114-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-rian-manezhnaya-114 [113]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-rian-luzhniki_115-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-rian-luzhniki-115 [114]]</sup> Putin allegedly organized a number of paramilitary groups loyal to himself and to the United Russia party in the period between 2005 and 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-116" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-116 [115]]</sup>
| |
| ===2012–2018: Third presidential term===
| |
| On 24 September 2011, while speaking at the United Russia party congress, Medvedev announced that he would recommend the party nominate Putin as its presidential candidate. He also revealed that the two men had long ago cut a deal to allow Putin to run for president in 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-117" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-117 [116]]</sup> This switch was termed by many in the media as "Rokirovka", the Russian term for the chess move "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castling castling]". Medvedev said he himself would be ready to perform "practical work in the government".<sup id="cite_ref-118" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-118 [117]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| On 4 March 2012, Putin won the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_presidential_election,_2012 2012 Russian presidential elections] in the first round, with 63.6% of the vote, despite widespread accusations of vote-rigging.<sup id="cite_ref-elections-history_79-2" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-elections-history-79 [78]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-119" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-119 [118]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-120" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-120 [119]]</sup> Opposition groups accused Putin and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Russia United Russia] party of fraud.<sup id="cite_ref-121" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-121 [120]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-122" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-122 [121]]</sup> While efforts to make the elections transparent were publicized, including the usage of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcam webcams] in polling stations, the vote was criticized by the Russian opposition and by international observers from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_for_Security_and_Co-operation_in_Europe Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] for procedural irregularities.<sup id="cite_ref-OSCE_123-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-OSCE-123 [122]]</sup>
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moscow_rally_4_February_2012,_Yakimanka_Street,_Bolotnaya_Square_26.JPG] Anti-Putin [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2%80%9313_Russian_protests protesters] march in Moscow, 4 February 2012Anti-Putin protests took place during and directly after the presidential campaign. The most notorious protest was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pussy_Riot Pussy Riot] performance on 21 February, and subsequent trial.<sup id="cite_ref-124" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-124 [123]]</sup> An estimated 8,000–20,000 protesters gathered in Moscow on 6 May,<sup id="cite_ref-vz-provocation_125-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-vz-provocation-125 [124]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-Russian_police_battle_anti-Putin_protesters_126-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Russian_police_battle_anti-Putin_protesters-126 [125]]</sup> when eighty people were injured in confrontations with police,<sup id="cite_ref-127" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-127 [126]]</sup> and 450 were arrested, with another 120 arrests taking place the following day.<sup id="cite_ref-Inauguration_protests_128-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Inauguration_protests-128 [127]]</sup> A counter-protest of Putin supporters occurred which culminated in a gathering of an estimated 130,000 supporters at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzhniki_Stadium Luzhniki Stadium], Russia's largest stadium. Some of the attendees stated that they had been paid to come, were forced to come by their employers, or were misled into believing that they were going to attend a folk festival instead.<sup id="cite_ref-129" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-129 [128]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-130" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-130 [129]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-131" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-131 [130]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-132" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-132 [131]]</sup> The rally is considered to be the largest in support of Putin to date.<sup id="cite_ref-133" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-133 [132]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| Putin's presidency was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_presidential_inauguration inaugurated] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kremlin Kremlin] on 7 May 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-134" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-134 [133]]</sup> On his first day as president, Putin issued 14 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decree_of_the_President_of_Russia Presidential decrees], which are sometimes called the "May Decrees" by the media, including a lengthy one stating wide-ranging goals for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Russia Russian economy]. Other decrees concerned [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Russia education], housing, skilled labor training, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union-Russia_relations relations with the European Union], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_industry_of_Russia defense industry], inter-ethnic relations, and other policy areas dealt with in Putin's program articles issued during the presidential campaign.<sup id="cite_ref-135" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-135 [134]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| In 2012 and 2013, Putin and the United Russia party backed stricter legislation against the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT LGBT] community, in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg Saint Petersburg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archangelsk Archangelsk] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novosibirsk Novosibirsk]; a law called the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_gay_propaganda_law Russian gay propaganda law], that is against "homosexual propaganda" (which prohibits such symbols as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_flag_(LGBT_movement) rainbow flag] as well as published works containing homosexual content) was adopted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Duma State Duma] in June 2013.<sup id="cite_ref-BBC-LGBT_136-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-BBC-LGBT-136 [135]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-RBC-LGBT_137-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-RBC-LGBT-137 [136]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-138" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-138 [137]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-139" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-139 [138]]</sup> Responding to international concerns about Russia's legislation, Putin asked critics to note that the law was a "ban on the propaganda of pedophilia and homosexuality" and he stated that homosexual visitors to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Winter_Olympics 2014 Winter Olympics] should "leave the children in peace" but denied there was any "professional, career or social discrimination" against homosexuals in Russia.<sup id="cite_ref-140" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-140 [139]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| In June 2013, Putin attended a televised rally of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-Russia_People%27s_Front All-Russia People's Front] where he was elected head of the movement,<sup id="cite_ref-Putleader_141-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Putleader-141 [140]]</sup> which was set up in 2011.<sup id="cite_ref-142" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-142 [141]]</sup> According to journalist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Rosenberg_(journalist) Steve Rosenberg], the movement is intended to "reconnect the Kremlin to the Russian people" and one day, if necessary, replace the increasingly unpopular [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Russia United Russia] party that currently backs Putin.<sup id="cite_ref-People's_Front_143-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-People's_Front-143 [142]]</sup>
| |
| ====Intervention in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea====
| |
| Main article: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_military_intervention_in_Ukraine Russian military intervention in Ukraine][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Celebrating_Victory_Day_and_the_70th_anniversary_of_Sevastopol%E2%80%99s_liberation_(2493-19).jpg] Putin, with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribbon_of_Saint_George St. George ribbon], greets local residents during a visit to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimea Crimean] city of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevastopol Sevastopol] on 9 May 2014In 2014, Russia made several military incursions into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine Ukrainian territory]. After [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromaidan Euromaidan] protests and the fall of Ukrainian president [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Yanukovych Viktor Yanukovych], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_green_men_(2014_Crimean_crisis) Russian soldiers without insignias] took control of strategic positions and infrastructure within the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Russia then [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annexation_of_Crimea_by_the_Russian_Federation annexed Crimea] after a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_status_referendum,_2014 disputed referendum] in which Crimeans voted to join the Russian Federation, according to official results.<sup id="cite_ref-Maskarovka_144-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Maskarovka-144 [143]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-washingtonpost_145-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-washingtonpost-145 [144]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-KremlinRU01_146-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-KremlinRU01-146 [145]]</sup> Subsequently, demonstrations by pro-Russian groups in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donbass Donbass] area of Ukraine escalated into an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Donbass armed conflict] between the Ukrainian government and the Russia-backed separatist forces of the self-declared [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donetsk_People%27s_Republic Donetsk] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugansk_People%27s_Republic Lugansk] People's Republics. In August, Russian military vehicles crossed the border in several locations of Donetsk Oblast.<sup id="cite_ref-Time0x01_147-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Time0x01-147 [146]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-how_the_war_transformed_148-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-how_the_war_transformed-148 [147]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-tanks_white_circles_149-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-tanks_white_circles-149 [148]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-150" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-150 [149]]</sup> The incursion by the Russian military was seen as responsible for the defeat of Ukrainian forces in early September.<sup id="cite_ref-ch40x02_151-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-ch40x02-151 [150]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-152" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-152 [151]]</sup>
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Asia-Europe_(ASEM)_Summit_meeting_of_the_leaders_of_Russia,_Ukraine,_Germany_and_France,_October_2014.jpg] Putin in talks with Ukrainian President [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Poroshenko Petro Poroshenko], German Chancellor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Merkel Angela Merkel] and French President [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Hollande François Hollande], 17 October 2014In November 2014, the Ukrainian military reported intensive movement of troops and equipment from Russia into the separatist controlled parts of eastern Ukraine.<sup id="cite_ref-153" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-153 [152]]</sup> The Associated Press reported 80 unmarked military vehicles on the move in rebel-controlled areas.<sup id="cite_ref-various_reuters_154-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-various_reuters-154 [153]]</sup> An [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_for_Security_and_Co-operation_in_Europe OSCE] Special Monitoring Mission observed convoys of heavy weapons and tanks in DPR-controlled territory without insignia.<sup id="cite_ref-osce.org_155-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-osce.org-155 [154]]</sup> OSCE monitors further stated they observed vehicles transporting ammunition and soldiers' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killed_in_action dead bodies] crossing the Russian-Ukrainian border under the guise of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian_aid humanitarian aid] convoys.<sup id="cite_ref-156" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-156 [155]]</sup> As of early August 2015, OSCE observed over 21 such vehicles marked with the Russian military code for soldiers killed in action.<sup id="cite_ref-157" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-157 [156]]</sup> According to ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moscow_Times The Moscow Times]'', Russia has tried to intimidate and silence human rights workers discussing Russian soldiers' deaths in the conflict.<sup id="cite_ref-Moscow_Times_158-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-Moscow_Times-158 [157]]</sup> OSCE repeatedly reported that its observers were denied access to the areas controlled by "combined Russian-separatist forces".<sup id="cite_ref-159" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-159 [158]]</sup>
| |
| | |
| The majority of members of the international community and organizations such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty_International Amnesty International] have condemned Russia for its actions in post-revolutionary Ukraine, accusing it of breaking international law and violating Ukrainian sovereignty. Many countries implemented [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_sanctions_during_the_Ukrainian_crisis economic sanctions against Russia, Russian individuals or companies] – to which Russia responded in kind.
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_opening_of_the_Moscow_Cathedral_Mosque_(2015-09-23)_01.jpg] Putin and Turkish President [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recep_Tayyip_Erdo%C4%9Fan Erdoğan] attend [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Cathedral_Mosque Moscow's Cathedral Mosque] opening ceremony, 23 September 2015In October 2015, ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post The Washington Post]'' reported that Russia has redeployed some of its elite units from Ukraine to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria Syria] in recent weeks to support Syrian President [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashar_al-Assad Bashar al-Assad].<sup id="cite_ref-160" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-160 [159]]</sup> In December 2015, Russian Federation President Putin admitted that Russian military intelligence officers were operating in Ukraine.<sup id="cite_ref-GN151217_161-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-GN151217-161 [160]]</sup>
| |
| Many members of the international community assumed that Putin's annexation of Crimea initiated the start of a completely new kind of foreign policy from Russia.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_162-0" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-:0-162 [161]]</sup> They took the annexation of Crimea to mean that his foreign policy shifted "from state-driven foreign policy" to taking an offensive stance to re-create the Soviet Union.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_162-1" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-:0-162 [161]]</sup> However, this policy shift can be understood as Putin trying to defend nations in Russia's sphere of influence from encroaching western power. While the act to annex the Crimea was bold and drastic, his "new" foreign policy may have more similarities to his older
| |
| | |
| nuclear power and industry development before 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-203" class="reference">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#cite_note-203 [202]]</sup> A large number of nuclear power stations and units are currently being constructed by the state corporation [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosatom Rosatom] in Russia and abroad.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup>
| |
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Russia_and_China_sign_major_gas_deal.jpeg] On 21 May 2014, Russia and China signed a $400 billion [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_of_Siberia gas deal]A construction program of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_floating_nuclear_power_station floating nuclear power plants] is intended to provide power to Russian
| |
| served as Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012. Before his political career, he was known as one of the greatest agents of the {{Wiki|KGB}}, the Russian secret police.
| |
| | |
| Putin has connections to the [[Templars|Templar]] organization [[Abstergo Industries]], which helped put his friend, mentor and predecessor [[Boris Yeltsin]] in power in 1991. In September 1999, {{Wiki|Chechens|Chechen}} terrorists {{Wiki|Russian apartment bombings|bombed apartment buildings}} in the Russian cities of {{Wiki|Buynaksk}}, [[Moscow]], and {{Wiki|Volgodonsk}}. Secretly orchestrated by Abstergo, these bombings boosted Putin's popularity as a presidential candidate.
| |
| | |
| ==Appearance==
| |
| *''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Rifts]]
| |
| | |
| ==Reference==
| |
| *''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Rifts#Cluster 6|Rifts: Cluster 6]]
| |
| | |
| {{Templars nav}} | |
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Putin, Vladimir}} | | {{DEFAULTSORT:Putin, Vladimir}} |
| | | <!--[es:Vladimir Putin] |
| [[es:Vladimir Putin]]
| | [fr:Vladimir Poutine] |
| [[fr:Vladimir Poutine]]
| | [ru:Владимир Путин]--> |
| [[ru:Владимир Путин]]
| |
| [[Category:1952 births]] | | [[Category:1952 births]] |
| [[Category:Individuals]] | | [[Category:Individuals]] |
