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| president2 = ] | president2 = ]
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| party = ] {{small|(1975–91)}}<br />] {{small|(1995–99)}}<br />] {{small|(1999–2001)}}<br />] <small>(1991–95; 2001–08)</small><br />] <small>(2008–present)</small> | party = ] {{small|(1975–91)}}<br />] {{small|(1995–99)}}<br />] {{small|(1999–2001)}}<br />] <small>(1991–95; 2001–08)</small><br />] <small>(2008–present)</small>
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| primeminister1 = ]<br />]<br />] | primeminister1 = ]<br />]<br />]
| successor1 = ] | successor1 = ]
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| birth_name = Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin | birth_name = Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|10|7|df=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|10|7|df=y}}
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| nationality = ] | nationality = ]
| otherparty = ] {{small|(2011–present)}} | otherparty = ] {{small|(2011–present)}}
| spouse = Donald Trump
| spouse = {{marriage|]|28 July 1983|2014|reason=divorced}}
| children = Mariya Putina ] | children = Mariya Putina ]
| residence = ], ], ] | residence = ], ], ]
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=== Vlad likes Putin it in the butt. ===

'''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|uː|t|ɪ|n}}; {{lang-rus|Влади́мир Влади́мирович Пу́тин|p=vlɐˈdʲimʲɪr vlɐˈdʲimʲɪrəvʲɪtɕ ˈputʲɪn|a=Ru-Vladimir_Vladimirovich_Putin.ogg}}; born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician. Putin is the current ], ] since 7 May 2012.<ref name=kremlinbio>{{cite web|title=Kremlin Biography of President Vladimir Putin|url=http://eng.putin.kremlin.ru|accessdate=18 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.european-leaders.com/vladimir-putin/ |title=http://www.european-leaders.com/vladimir-putin/ |date=22 March 2017 |website=European-Leaders.com |accessdate=22 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=biocom>{{cite web|title=President Vladimir Putin on Biography.com |url=http://www.biography.com/people/vladimir-putin-9448807# |accessdate=1 July 2016}}</ref> He was ] from 1999 to 2000, President from 2000 to 2008, and again Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vladimir Putin's Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in the Kremlin|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNiWnSOsAnE|publisher=YouTube.com|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=23 June 2016}}</ref> During his second term as Prime Minister, he was the Chairman of the ruling ] Party.<ref name=kremlinbio/>

Born in Leningrad (now ]), Putin studied German in high school and speaks the language fluently.<ref name=german>{{cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/news/338957-putin-translates-german-wimmer/|title=Putin Dazzles With German Language Skills|work=Russia Today|date=8 April 2016|accessdate=16 April 2016}}</ref><ref name=german1>{{cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/news/339003-putin-foreign-languages-diplomacy/|title=5 Times Putin Used Foreign Languages for Diplomacy|work=Russia Today|date=9 April 2016|accessdate=16 June 2016}}</ref> He studied Law at the ], graduating in 1975.<ref name=law>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/russiagov/putin.htm|work=The Washington Post|date=30 January 2000|title=Putin's Career Rooted in Russia's KGB |first=David |last=Hoffman}}</ref> Putin was a ] Foreign Intelligence Officer for 16 years, rising to the rank of ] before retiring in 1991 to enter politics in Saint Petersburg. He moved to Moscow in 1996 and joined President ]'s administration, rising quickly through the ranks and becoming ] on 31 December 1999, when Yeltsin resigned. Putin won the subsequent ] by a 53% to 30% margin, thus avoiding a runoff with his ] opponent, ].<ref>Paddock, Richard. , ] (27 March 2000).</ref> He was ] with 72% of the vote.

During Putin's first presidency, the ] grew for eight straight years, and ] measured in ] increased by 72%.<ref name="challenges_p12">{{cite book|editors=Anders Åslund, Sergei Guriev, Andrew C. Kuchins|title=Russia After the Global Economic Crisis|chapter=Challenges Facing the Russian Economy after the Crisis|last1=Guriev|first1=Sergei|last2=Tsyvinski|first2=Aleh|publisher=Peterson Institute for International Economics; Centre for Strategic and International Studies; New Economic School|year=2010|isbn=9780881324976|pages=12–13}}</ref><ref> ]. Retrieved 12 May 2008</ref> The growth was a result of the ], ], and prudent economic and fiscal policies.<ref name="Putin 2007">''Putin: Russia's Choice'', (Routledge 2007), by ], Chapter 9</ref><ref name="Fragile Empire 2013 page 17">''Fragile Empire: How Russia Fell In and Out of Love with Vladimir Putin'', Yale University Press (2013), by Ben Judah, page 17</ref> Because of ] mandated ]s, Putin was ineligible to run for a third consecutive presidential term in 2008. The ] was won by ], who appointed Putin Prime Minister, beginning a period of so-called "]".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Hale|first=Henry E.|author2=Timothy J. Colton|date=8 September 2009|title=Russians and the Putin-Medvedev "Tandemocracy": A Survey-Based Portrait of the 2007–08 Election Season|journal=The National Council for Eurasian and East European Research|publisher=University of Washington|location=Seattle, WA|url=http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/nceeer/2009_823-03_2_Hale.pdf|accessdate=15 March 2012}}</ref> In September 2011, after presidential terms were extended from four to six years,<ref>Vasilyeva, Natallya. , '']'' (12 April 2012).</ref> Putin announced he would seek a third term as president. He won the ] with 64% of the vote, a result which aligned with pre-election polling.<ref>Shuster, Simon. , ] (5 March 2012).</ref> Falling oil prices coupled with ] imposed at the beginning of 2014 after ] and ] led to GDP shrinking by 3.7% in 2015.<ref name=moscowtimes2009>{{cite web|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/economic-slowdown-eases-in-q3/389355.html|title=Economic Slowdown Eases in Q3 – Business|work=The Moscow Times|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="themoscowtimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russians-average-monthly-salary-falls-to-500-as-food-prices-skyrocket/516947.html|title=Russians' Average Monthly Salary Falls to $500 as Food Prices Skyrocket – News|work=The Moscow Times|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Mark|title=Russia: One of 10 worst economies in 2015|url=http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/25/news/economy/russia-10-worst-emerging-economies/|agency=CNN|date=26 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/12120113/Russian-economy-in-turmoil-as-Putin-is-battered-by-falling-oil-price-and-sanctions.html|title=Russian economy in turmoil as Putin is battered by falling oil price and sanctions|date=25 January 2016|work=Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref>

Putin has enjoyed high domestic approval ratings during his career, and received extensive international attention as one of the world's most powerful leaders. In 2007, he was the ].<ref>{{cite news | author= | title=Person of the Year 2007 | url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1690753,00.html | work=Time | year=2007 | accessdate=8 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Putin Answers Questions From Time Magazine|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFMQz6AN3B0|publisher=YouTube.com|date=20 December 2007|accessdate=21 June 2016}}</ref> In 2015, he was #1 on the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Druzhinin|first1=Alexei|title=Vladimir Putin Steals The Show In TIME 100 Magazine Reader’s Poll|url=https://www.rt.com/news/249513-putin-time-poll-russia/|agency=Russia Today (RT)|date=14 April 2015|accessdate=27 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://time.com/70855/vladimir-putin-2014-time-100/ |title=Vladimir Putin – The Russian Leader Who Truly Tests The West |first1=Madeleine
|last1=Albright |date=23 April 2014 |publisher=''Time Magazine, USA'' |accessdate=2 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.newsweek.com/putin-smart-truly-evil-man-says-madeleine-albright-450332 |title=Putin Is a 'Smart But Truly Evil Man,' says Madeleine Albright |first1=Damien |last1=Sharkov |date=20 April 2016 |publisher=''Newsweek'', USA |accessdate=2 November 2016}}</ref> '']'' ranked him the ] every year from 2013 to 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=The World's Most Powerful People 2016|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2016/12/14/the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2016/#2ccfb6af368d|agency=Forbes|date=14 December 2016|quote=For the fourth consecutive year, Forbes ranked Russian President Vladimir Putin as the world's most powerful person. From the motherland to Syria to the U.S. presidential elections, Russia’s leader continues to get what he wants.}}</ref>'''</div>

== Early life and education ==
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born on 7 October 1952 in ], ], ] (now ]),<ref name=stp>{{cite web |title=When Was St. Petersburg Known as Petrograd and Leningrad? |url=http://geography.about.com/od/politicalgeography/fl/When-Was-St-Petersburg-Known-as-Petrograd-and-Leningrad.htm |publisher=About.com |first=Matt|last=Rosenberg |date=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Biography|url = http://premier.gov.ru/eng/premier/biography.html|date = 14 May 2010|accessdate = 31 July 2015|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100514164020/http://premier.gov.ru/eng/premier/biography.html|archivedate=14 May 2010 |dead-url = yes}}</ref> the youngest of three children of Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin (1911–1999) and Maria Ivanovna Putina (''née'' Shelomova; 1911–1998). His birth was preceded by the death of two brothers, Viktor and Albert, born in the mid-1930s. Albert died in infancy and Viktor died of ] during the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pukas|first1=Anna|title=Is Vladimir Putin mad or just bad?|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/490410/Is-Vladimir-Putin-mad-or-just-bad|agency=Sunday Express|date=22 July 2014}}</ref> Putin's mother was a factory worker and his father was a ] in the ], serving in the ] fleet in the early 1930s. Early in ], his father served in the ] of the ].<ref name="first-person">{{cite book|title=First Person|author1=Vladimir Putin |author2=Nataliya Gevorkyan |author3=Natalya Timakova |author4=Andrei Kolesnikov |others=trans. Catherine A. Fitzpatrick|year=2000|publisher=]|page=208|isbn=978-1-58648-018-9}}</ref><ref> The New York Times, 2000</ref><ref> ''Los Angeles Times'', 19 March 2000</ref> Later, he was transferred to the regular army and was severely wounded in 1942.<ref name="sakwa_p3">{{harv|Sakwa|2008|p=3}}</ref>

On 1 September 1960, Putin started at School No. 193 at ], near his home. He was one of a few in the class of approximately 45 pupils who was not yet a member of the ]. At age 12, he began to practice ] and ]. He wished to emulate the intelligence officers portrayed in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://russia.rin.ru/guides_e/2637.html|title=Prime Minister|publisher=Russia.rin.ru|accessdate=24 September 2011}}</ref> Putin studied German at Saint Petersburg High School 281, and speaks German fluently.<ref name="german" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.582099|title=In Tel Aviv, Putin's German Teacher Recalls 'Disciplined' Student|work=Haaretz|date=26 March 2014|accessdate=16 April 2016|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119182033/http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/1.582099|archivedate=19 November 2015}}</ref>

Putin studied Law at the ] in 1970 and graduated in 1975.<ref name="law" /> His thesis was on "The Most Favored Nation Trading Principle in International Law".<ref>Lynch, Allen. '''', p. 15 (Potomac Books 2011).</ref> While there, he was required to join the ], and remained a member until December 1991.<ref>Владимир Путин. ''От Первого Лица''. </ref> Putin met ], an ] who taught ] (khozyaystvennoye pravo), and who would be influential in Putin's career.<ref name="Vlast">{{cite book|last=Pribylovsky|first=Vladimir|script-title=ru:Власть-2010 (60 биографий)|year=2010|publisher=Panorama|isbn=978-5-94420-038-9|pages=132–139|url=http://scilla.ru/works/knigi/vlast2010.pdf|authorlink=Vladimir Pribylovsky|location=Moscow|language=Russian|chapter=Valdimir Putin}}</ref>

== KGB career ==
] uniform, {{circa|1980}}]]In 1975, Putin joined the ], and trained at the 401st KGB school in Okhta, Leningrad.<ref name=stp/> After training, he worked in the Second Chief Directorate (]), before he was transferred to the ], where he monitored foreigners and consular officials in Leningrad.<ref name=stp/><ref name=sakwa_pp8-9>{{harv|Sakwa|2008|pp=8–9}}</ref><ref name=hoffman>{{cite news|first=David|last=Hoffman |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/russiagov/putin.htm |title=Putin's Career Rooted in Russia's KGB|work=The Washington Post|date=30 January 2000}}</ref> From 1985 to 1990, he served in ], ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/09/europe/EU_GEN_Germany_Russia.php |title=Putin set to visit Dresden, the place of his work as a KGB spy, to tend relations with Germany |work=International Herald Tribune|date=9 October 2006|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326123503/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/09/europe/EU_GEN_Germany_Russia.php |archivedate=26 March 2009 }}</ref> using a cover identity as a translator.<ref name="M. Gessen p. 60">{{cite book|last=Gessen|first=Masha|title=The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin|year=2012|publisher=Riverhead|location=New York City, New York|isbn=1594488428|url=https://books.google.com/books?vid=9781594488429|edition=1st|accessdate=3 March 2014|page=60}}</ref> According to Putin's official biography, during the ] that began on 9 November 1989, he burned KGB files to prevent demonstrators from obtaining them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-runner-up-vladimir-putin/|title=Vladimir Putin, The Imperialist|work=]|accessdate=11 December 2014|date=10 December 2014}}</ref>

After the ], Putin returned to Saint Petersburg, where in June 1991, he worked with the International Affairs section of ], reporting to Vice-Rector ].<ref name="hoffman" /> There, he looked for new KGB recruits, watched the student body, and renewed his friendship with his former professor, ], the ].<ref name="R. Sakwa p. 10">{{cite book |last=Sakwa|first=Richard |title=Putin : Russia's Choice|year=2007|publisher=Routledge|location=Abingdon, Oxon|isbn=9780415407656|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DJcixDNh_m4C|edition=2nd|accessdate=11 June 2012|page=10}}</ref> Putin resigned with the rank of ] on 20 August 1991,<ref name="R. Sakwa p. 10" /> on the second day of ] against ] ].<ref>R. Sakwa ''Putin: Russia's Choice'', pp. 10–11</ref> Putin said: "As soon as the coup began, I immediately decided which side I was on", although he also noted that the choice was hard because he had spent the best part of his life with "the organs".<ref>R. Sakwa ''Putin: Russia's Choice'', p. 11</ref>

In 1999, Putin described ] as "a blind alley, far away from the mainstream of civilization".<ref name="NYorker eclipse">{{Cite journal|last=Remick|first=David|authorlink=David Remnick|title=Watching the Eclipse|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/08/11/watching-eclipse|journal=]|issue=11 August 2014|accessdate=3 August 2014}}</ref>

== Political career ==
{{Main article|Political career of Vladimir Putin|Russia under Vladimir Putin}}

=== Saint Petersburg administration (1990–1996) ===
In May 1990, Putin was appointed as an advisor on international affairs to Mayor Sobchak. On 28 June 1991, he became head of the Committee for External Relations of the ], with responsibility for promoting international relations and foreign investments<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kvs.spb.ru/en/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=21 February 2007 |deadurl=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221044544/http://kvs.spb.ru/en/ |archivedate=21 February 2007 }}</ref> and registering business ventures. Within a year, Putin was investigated by the city legislative council led by ]. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=1124|title=Uproar at Honor For Putin|last=Kovalev|first=Vladimir|date=23 July 2004|work=The Saint Petersburg Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/russiagov/putin.htm|title=Putin's Career Rooted in Russia's KGB|last=Hoffman|first=David|date=30 January 2000|work=The Washington Post}}</ref> Despite the investigators' recommendation that Putin be fired, Putin remained head of the Committee for External Relations until 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rusnet.nl/news/2003/05/19/print/report03.shtml |title=Archived copy |accessdate=27 September 2007 |deadurl=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927010325/http://www.rusnet.nl/news/2003/05/19/print/report03.shtml |archivedate=27 September 2007 }} by Catherine Belton</ref><ref>Walsh, Nick Paton (29 February 2004). . ''The Observer''.</ref> From 1994 to 1996, he held several other political and governmental positions in Saint Petersburg.<ref name="30bio">{{cite web|url=http://gazeta.lenta.ru/daynews/09-08-1999/30bio.htm|script-title=ru:Владимир Путин: от ассистента Собчака до и.о. премьера|publisher=GAZETA.RU|language=Russian}}</ref>

In March 1994, Putin was appointed as First Deputy Chairman of the ]. In May 1995, he organized the Saint Petersburg branch of the pro-government ] political party, the ] ] founded by Prime Minister ]. In 1995, he managed the ] for that party, and from 1995 through June 1997, he was leader of its Saint Petersburg branch.<ref name="30bio" />

=== Early Moscow career (1996–1999) ===
] director, 1 January 1998]]
In 1996, Sobchak lost his bid for reelection in Saint Petersburg. Putin was called to Moscow and in June 1996 became a Deputy Chief of the ] headed by ]. He occupied this position until March 1997. During his tenure, Putin was responsible for the foreign property of the state and organized transfer of the former assets of the Soviet Union and ] to the Russian Federation.<ref name=Vlast/>

On 26 March 1997, President ] appointed Putin deputy chief of ], 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 ] and the successor was ], both future prominent politicians and Putin's associates.<ref name=Vlast/>

On 27 June 1997, at the ], guided by rector ], Putin defended his ] dissertation in economics, titled "The Strategic Planning of Regional Resources Under the Formation of Market Relations".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zavtra.ru/cgi/veil/data/zavtra/00/338/32.html|title=ПУТИН&nbsp;— КАНДИДАТ НАУК|date=24 May 2000 |publisher=zavtra.ru|language=Russian|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806204506/http://www.zavtra.ru/cgi/veil/data/zavtra/00/338/32.html|archivedate=6 August 2013 }}</ref> This exemplified the custom in Russia for a rising young official to write a scholarly work in mid-career.<ref>Gustafson, Thane. '''', p. 246 (Harvard University Press, 2012).</ref> When Putin later became president, the dissertation became a target of ] accusations by fellows at the ]; although the dissertation was referenced,<ref name=cdi.org>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2006-78-3a.cfm|title=It All Boils Down to Plagiarism|publisher=Cdi.org|date=31 March 2006|accessdate=2 March 2010|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806181040/http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2006-78-3a.cfm|archivedate=6 August 2009}}</ref><ref name=kommersant-dissertation>{{cite news|url=http://www.kommersant.com/pda/doc.asp?id=662935|title=The President as Candidate|authors=Maxim Shishkin, Dmitry Butrin; Mikhail Shevchuk|newspaper=Kommersant|accessdate=30 March 2010}}</ref> the Brookings fellows asserted it constituted plagiarism albeit perhaps unintentional.<ref name=cdi.org/> The dissertation committee denied the accusations.<ref name=kommersant-dissertation/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/mar/24/20060324-104106-9971r/?page=all|date=24 March 2006|title=Researchers peg Putin as plagiarist over thesis|work=]|accessdate=5 March 2014}}</ref>

On 25 May 1998, Putin was appointed First Deputy Chief of ] for regions, replacing ]; and, on 15 July, 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 ]. After Putin's appointment, the commission completed no such agreements, although during Shakhray's term as the Head of the Commission there were 46 agreements signed.<ref> (in Russian) by Oleg Odnokolenko. Itogi, #47(545), 2 January 2007.</ref> Later, after becoming president, Putin canceled all those agreements.<ref name=Vlast/>

On 25 July 1998, Yeltsin appointed Putin as ] of the ] (FSB), the primary intelligence and security organization of the Russian Federation and successor of the KGB. He held that position until 9 August 1999.<ref>{{cite book |title= Russia Since 1980
|last1= Rosefielde |first1= Steven |last2= Hedlund |first2= Stefan |publisher= Cambridge University Press |date= 2009 |page= 139 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lNSiw3S8NIUC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139&ots=R88UruyK42&sig=XjunLWSjX9GzqYUAqhTuA-A80DU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizvpv_nfTPAhUIi1QKHfF-CfQ4ChDoAQgpMAM#v=onepage&f=false|accessdate= 24 October 2016 }}</ref>

=== First premiership (1999) ===
{{Main article|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.co.uk/1/hi/not_in_website/syndication/monitoring/415278.stm |title=Text of Yeltsin's speech in English|accessdate=31 May 2007|date=9 August 1999|publisher=BBC News}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Yeltsin also announced that he wanted to see Putin as his successor. Still later on that same day, Putin agreed to run for the presidency.<ref> BBC, 10 August 1999</ref>

On 16 August, the ] approved his appointment as Prime Minister with 233 votes in favour (vs. 84 against, 17 abstained),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/422001.stm |title=Yeltsin's man wins approval |publisher=BBC News |date=16 August 1999 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> 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 being determined by the presidential administration.<ref>Richard Sakwa ''Putin: Russia's choice'', 2008. p. 20.</ref>

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. Putin's ] image and his unrelenting approach to the ], 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 ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nupi.no/cgi-win/Russland/polgrupp.exe?Unity |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2 July 2001 |deadurl=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010702200941/http://www.nupi.no/cgi-win/Russland/polgrupp.exe?Unity |archivedate=2 July 2001 }} Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt</ref> which won the second largest percentage of the popular vote (23.3%) in the December 1999 ] elections, and in turn he was supported by it.

=== Acting presidency (1999–2000) ===

On 31 December 1999, Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned and, according to the ], Putin became ]. On assuming this role, Putin went on a previously scheduled visit to Russian troops in Chechnya.<ref>{{cite news|title=Russia: Putin Travels To Chechnya To Visit Troops|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1093548.html|agency=]|date=3 March 2000}}</ref>

The first ] that Putin signed, on 31 December 1999, was titled "On guarantees for former president of the Russian Federation and members of his family".<ref> ]</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Александр Колесниченко|url=http://www.newizv.ru/politics/2004-03-18/5273-razvrashenie-pervogo-lica.html|title="Развращение" первого лица. Госдума не решилась покуситься на неприкосновенность экс-президента|publisher=Newizv.ru|accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> This ensured that "corruption charges against the outgoing President and his relatives" would not be pursued.<ref name=Time.com-POTY2007>Ignatius, Adi. , '']'', page 4 (19 December 2007). Retrieved 19 November 2009.</ref> This was most notably targeted at ] 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 suspects<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.novayagazeta.ru/society/11232.html | title=ДЕЛО ПУТИНА | publisher=Novaya Gazeta | date=20–23 March 2000 | accessdate=19 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.compromat.ru/page_10200.htm|title=Компромат.Ru / Compromat.Ru: Фигунанты по квартирному делу.|website=www.compromat.ru|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref> as a member of the ] 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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9s2NCgAAQBAJ|title=Putin's Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia?|last=Dawisha|first=Karen|date=22 September 2015|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9781476795201|language=en}}</ref> On 12 February 2001, Putin signed a similar ] which replaced the ] of 1999. The case of Putin's alleged corruption in metal exports from 1992 was brought back by ], but she was silenced and forced to leave Saint Petersburg.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.svoboda.org/content/article/1972366.html | title=Почему Марина Салье молчала о Путине 10 лет? | publisher=Radio Svoboda | accessdate=19 March 2016}}</ref>

While his opponents had been preparing for an election in June 2000, Yeltsin's resignation resulted in the ] being held within three months, on 26 March 2000; Putin won in the first round with 53% of the vote.<ref name=elections-history>{{cite web|url=http://www.ria.ru/vybor2012_infographics/20120309/590825026.html|title=История президентских выборов в России|work=РИА Новости|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref>

=== First presidential term (2000–2004) ===
], May 2000]]
The inauguration of President Putin occurred on 7 May 2000. Putin appointed the ], ], 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 ].<ref name=Kursk>, ], 12 August 2001</ref> That criticism was largely because it was several days before Putin returned from vacation, and several more before he visited the scene.<ref name=Kursk/>

Between 2000 and 2004, Putin set about reconstruction of the impoverished condition of the country, apparently winning a power-struggle with the ], 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.<ref>''Putin: Russia's Choice'', By Richard Sakwa, (Routledge, 2008) page 143-150</ref><ref>''Playing Russian Roulette: Putin in search of good governance'', by Andre Mommen, in ''Good Governance in the Era of Global Neoliberalism: Conflict and Depolitisation in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa'', By Jolle Demmers, Alex E. Fernández Jilberto, Barbara Hogenboom (Routledge, 2004)</ref> A new group of business magnates emerged, including ], ], ], and ], with close personal ties to Putin.

A few months before elections, Putin fired Prime Minister Kasyanov's cabinet, and appointed ] to his place. ] became the first civilian in Russia to be appointed to the Defense Minister position.

In 2003, a referendum was held in ], 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/2565049.stm|title=BBC News – Regions and territories: Chechnya|publisher=|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref> Chechnya has been gradually stabilized with the establishment of the Parliamentary elections and a Regional Government.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2331993.ece |title=Can Grozny be groovy? |work=] |date=6 March 2007 |archivedate=28 March 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328082726/http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2331993.ece |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/campaigns/russia/chechnya/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121224006/http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/russia/chechnya/ |archivedate=21 November 2006 |title=Human Rights Watch Reports, on human rights abuses in Chechnya |publisher=Human Rights Watch |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> Throughout the ], Russia severely disabled the Chechen rebel movement; however, sporadic attacks by rebels continued to occur throughout the northern Caucasus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.html|title=The World Factbook|work=cia.gov|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref>

=== Second presidential term (2004–2008) ===

] in March 2008]]
On 14 March 2004, ] to the presidency for a second term, receiving 71% of the vote.<ref name=elections-history/> The ] 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 ] 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.<ref>, ], 16 December 2002</ref>

The near 10-year period prior to the rise of Putin after the dissolution of Soviet rule was a time of upheaval in Russia.<ref>{{cite news|title=On this Day December 25: Gorbachev resigns as Soviet Union breaks up|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/25/newsid_2542000/2542749.stm|accessdate=23 December 2016|work=BBC News}}</ref> In a 2005 ] speech, Putin characterized the collapse of the ] as the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the Twentieth Century.”<ref>{{cite news|title=Putin deplores collapse of USSR|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4480745.stm|accessdate=23 December 2016|work=BBC News|date=25 April 2005}}</ref> Putin elaborated "Moreover, the epidemic of disintegration infected Russia itself.” <ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gold|first1=Martin|title=Understanding the Russian Move Into Ukraine|journal=The National Law Review|date=16 September 2015|url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/understanding-russian-move-ukraine|accessdate=23 December 2016|publisher=Covington & Burling LLP}}</ref> The country's cradle-to-grave ] was gone and life expectancy declined in the period preceding Putin’s rule.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Krainova|first1=N.|title=Life Expectancy in Russia Is Stagnant, Study Says|url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/life-expectancy-in-russia-is-stagnant-study-says-22106|accessdate=23 December 2016|work=The Moscow Times|date=5 March 2013}}</ref> In 2005, the ] were launched to improve Russia's ], ], ] and ].<ref name=bofit>{{cite journal|journal=BOFIT Online|url=http://www.suomenpankki.fi/en/suomen_pankki/organisaatio/asiantuntijoita/Documents/bon0608.pdf|title=The challenges of the Medvedev era|publisher=Bank of Finland|date=24 June 2008|accessdate=24 September 2011|issn=1456-811X}}</ref><ref name=bbc-demography>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/mobile/russia/2012/04/120411_putin_duma_constitution.shtml|title=BBC Russian – Россия – Путин очертил "дорожную карту" третьего срока|work=bbc.co.uk|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref>

The continued criminal prosecution of Russia's then richest man, President of ] company ], for fraud and ] was seen by the international press as a retaliation for Khodorkovsky's donations to both liberal and communist opponents of the Kremlin.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} The government said that Khodorkovsky was "corrupting" a large segment of the Duma to prevent changes to the tax code.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} 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 ].<ref> '']'', 15 February 2008 (issue 3843, page 8).</ref> The fate of Yukos was seen as a sign of a broader shift of Russia towards a system of ].<ref> by ], nationalreview.com, 5 November 2003. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228011223/http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/gvosdev200311050739.asp |date=28 December 2008 }}</ref><ref> by ], '']'', 9 July 2004.</ref> This was underscored in July 2014 when shareholders of Yukos were awarded $50 billion in compensation by the ] in ].<ref name="YukosCase">{{cite news|title=Hague court awards $50 bn compensation to Yukos shareholders|url=http://www.russiaherald.com/index.php/sid/224207121/scat/723971d98160d438/ht/Hague-court-awards-50-bn-compensation-to-Yukos-shareholders|accessdate=29 July 2014|publisher=Russia Herald}}</ref>

On 7 October 2006, ], a journalist who exposed corruption in the ] and its conduct in ], 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_m_z/joan_smith/article1822204.ece |title=Putin's Russia failed to protect this brave woman – Joan Smith |work=The Independent |date=9 October 2006 |accessdate=22 June 2013 |location=London}}</ref><ref>, Democracy Now</ref> Putin himself said that her death caused the government more problems than her writings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel Work Together|work=Kommersant|url=http://www.kommersant.com/p712110/r_527/Putin_visit_Germany/|date=11 October 2006}}</ref>

In 2007, "]es" were organized by the opposition group ],<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Steven|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/world/europe/10kasparov.html?ex=1331182800&en=2f3ff57730367a82&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss|title=Kasparov, Building Opposition to Putin|location=Russia|work=The New York Times|date=10 March 2007|accessdate=2 March 2010}}</ref> led by former chess champion ] and national-Bolshevist leader ]. 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7110910.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Garry Kasparov jailed over rally|date=24 November 2007|accessdate=9 April 2010}}</ref>

On 12 September 2007, Putin dissolved the government upon the request of Prime Minister ]. Fradkov commented that it was to give the President a "free hand" in the run-up to the parliamentary election. ] was appointed the new prime minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296505,00.html|title=Putin Dissolves Government, Nominates Viktor Zubkov as New Prime Minister|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=12 September 2007|accessdate=2 March 2010}}</ref>

In December 2007, ] won 64.24% of the popular vote in their run for ] according to election preliminary results.<ref>, 4 December 2007, Rbc.ru</ref> 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.<ref>, 4 December 2007, ''Izvestia''</ref><ref>, 3 December 2007, ''Izvestia''</ref>

=== Second premiership (2008–2012) ===
{{Main article|Vladimir Putin's Second Cabinet}}
Putin was barred from a third term by the Constitution. First Deputy Prime Minister ] was elected his successor. In a ], only a day after handing the presidency to Medvedev, Putin was appointed ], maintaining his political dominance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/world/europe/09russia.html|title=Putin Is Approved as Prime Minister|date=9 May 2008|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

], March 2008]]

Putin has said that overcoming the consequences of the world economic crisis was one of the two main achievements of his second Premiership.<ref name=bbc-demography/> The other was the ] between 2008–2011 following a long period of demographic collapse that began in the 1990s.<ref name=bbc-demography/>

At the ] 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15045816|title=Russia's Putin set to return as president in 2012|date=24 September 2011|accessdate=24 September 2011|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

After the ] on 4 December 2011, tens of thousands Russians engaged in ] against alleged electoral fraud, the largest protests in Putin's time. Protesters criticized Putin and ] and demanded annulment of the election results.<ref name=GuardLive>, ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 10 December 2011</ref> Those protests sparked the fear of a ] in society.<ref> politonline.ru {{ru icon}}</ref><ref name=rian-manezhnaya>{{cite web|url=http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120304/171729884.html|title=‘We Won in Fair and Open Fight' – Putin|author=Sputnik|date=4 March 2012|work=rian.ru|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=rian-luzhniki>{{cite web|url=http://en.rian.ru/video/20120223/171487865.html|title=Putin Supporters Fill Moscow Stadium|author=Sputnik|date=23 February 2012|work=rian.ru|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref> Putin allegedly organized a number of paramilitary groups loyal to himself and to the United Russia party in the period between 2005 and 2012.<ref>{{Citation|last=Frum|first=David|title=What Putin Wants|journal=The Atlantic|volume=313|issue=5|pages=46–48|date=June 2014}}</ref>

=== Third presidential term (2012–present) ===
On 4 March 2012, Putin won the ] in the first round, with 63.6% of the vote, despite widespread accusations of vote-rigging,<ref name=elections-history/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/919928.stm|work=BBC News|title=Putin won 'rigged elections'|date=11 September 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:Выборы Президента Российской Федерации 2012|url=http://www.vybory.izbirkom.ru/region/region/izbirkom?action=show&root=1&tvd=100100031793509&vrn=100100031793505&region=0&global=1&sub_region=0&prver=0&pronetvd=null&vibid=100100031793509&type=226|website=izbirkom.ru|publisher=Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation|accessdate=10 June 2015|language=ru}}</ref> Opposition groups accused Putin and the ] party of fraud.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120304/171708401.html |title=Putin Hails Vote Victory, Opponents Cry Foul |agency=RIA Novosti |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/mar/05/russia-putin-voter-fraud-statistics|title=Russian election: does the data suggest Putin won through fraud?|author=James Ball|work=The Guardian|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref> While efforts to make the elections transparent were publicized, including the usage of ]s in polling stations, the vote was criticized by the Russian opposition and by international observers from the ] for procedural irregularities.<ref name=OSCE>{{cite web|title=Russia’s presidential election marked by unequal campaign conditions, active citizens’ engagement, international observers say|url=http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/88661|publisher=]}}</ref>

] march in Moscow, 4 February 2012]]

Anti-Putin protests took place during and directly after the presidential campaign. The most notorious protest was the ] performance on 21 February, and subsequent trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/aug/17/pussy-riot-sentenced-prison-putin|work=The Guardian|first=Miriam|last=Elder|title=Pussy Riot sentenced to two years in prison colony over anti-Putin protest|date=17 August 2012|location=London}}</ref> An estimated 8,000–20,000 protesters gathered in Moscow on 6 May,<ref name=vz-provocation> vz.ru</ref><ref name="Russian police battle anti-Putin protesters">{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/06/us-russia-protests-idUSBRE8440CK20120506|title=Russian police battle anti-Putin protesters|agency=Reuters|accessdate=7 May 2012|date=6 May 2012}}</ref> when eighty people were injured in confrontations with police,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2012/05/10/more/|title=СК пересчитал пострадавших полицейских во время "Марша миллионов"|work=lenta.ru|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref> and 450 were arrested, with another 120 arrests taking place the following day.<ref name="Inauguration protests">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/9250729/Vladimir-Putin-inauguration-shows-how-popularity-has-crumbled.html|title=Vladimir Putin inauguration shows how popularity has crumbled|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=7 May 2012|location=London|first=Tom|last=Parfitt|date=7 May 2012}}</ref> A counter-protest of Putin supporters occurred which culminated into a gathering of an estimated 130,000 supporters at the ], 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Putin tells stadium rally 'battle' is on for Russia|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17136644|agency=BBC|date=23 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Ross|first1=Cameron|title=Systemic and Non-Systemic Opposition in the Russian Federation: Civil Society Awakens?|date=2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=1317047230|page=46|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M0mrCwAAQBAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Resolute Putin Faces a Russia That's Changed|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/world/europe/a-resolute-putin-faces-a-changing-russia.html|work=The New York Times|date=23 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Putin, Addressing Rally, Casts Himself as Unifier|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204778604577241272571508352|agency=Wall Street Journal|date=24 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Putin addresses tens of thousands at Moscow rally|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/23/putin-addresses-thousands-moscow-rally|work=The Guardian|date=23 February 2012}}</ref> The rally is considered to be the largest in support of Putin to date.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pro-Putin rally draws tens of thousands|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/02/201222310314419393.html|agency=Al-Jazeera|date=23 February 2012}}</ref>

Putin's presidency was ] in the ] on 7 May 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/07/vladimir-putin-inaugurated-russian-president|title=Vladimir Putin inaugurated as Russian president amid Moscow protests|date=7 May 2012|work=Guardian|accessdate=20 January 2014}}</ref> On his first day as President, Putin issued 14 ], which are sometimes called the "May Decrees" by the media, including a lengthy one stating wide-ranging goals for the ]. Other decrees concerned ], housing, skilled labor training, ], the ], inter-ethnic relations, and other policy areas dealt with in Putin's program articles issued during the presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://larouchepac.com/node/22623|title="Putin Inaugurated; States Intention for Russia to Be "Center of Gravity for the Whole of Eurasia", May 8, 2012|publisher=Larouchepac.com|accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_05_07/74079067/ |title="Putin decrees EU closeness policy", Voice of Russia, May 7, 2012|publisher=English.ruvr.ru|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

In 2012 and 2013, Putin and the United Russia party backed stricter legislation against the ] community, in ], ] and ]; a law against "homosexual propaganda" (which prohibits such symbols as the ] as well as published works containing homosexual content) was adopted by the ] in June 2013.<ref name="BBC-LGBT">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/russia/2013/06/130611_duma_gay_propaganda.shtml?print=1|title=Госдума приняла закон о "нетрадиционных отношениях"|publisher=]|date=11 June 2013|accessdate=11 June 2013|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6HJ6j62nr?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/russia/2013/06/130611_duma_gay_propaganda.shtml?print%3D1|archivedate=11 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="RBC-LGBT">{{cite web|url=http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/20130611172814.shtml?print|title=ГД приняла закон об усилении наказания за пропаганду гомосексуализма среди подростков|publisher=]|date=11 June 2013|accessdate=11 June 2013|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6HJ6l84Me?url=http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/20130611172814.shtml?print|archivedate=11 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/two-arrested-in-st-petersburg-for-violating-city-s-new-anti-gay-law-a-826199.html|title="Discrimination in Russia: Arrests for Violation of St. Petersburg Anti-Gay Law", Spiegel Online, April, 06, 2012|author=SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg, Germany|date=6 April 2012|work=SPIEGEL ONLINE}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/25/us-russia-gay-idUSBRE90O0QT20130125|title="Russian parliament backs ban on "gay propaganda", Reuters, 25 January 2013|work=Reuters|date=25 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/01/21/russia-moves-to-enact-anti-gay-laws/|title=Russia moves to enact laws against 'homosexual propaganda'|work=Fox News|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref> 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 ] should "leave the children in peace" but denied there was any "professional, career or social discrimination" against homosexuals in Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-putin-i-know-some-people-who-are-gay-were-on-friendly-terms-9070363.html|title=Vladimir Putin: 'I know some people who are gay, we're on friendly terms'|work=The Independent|first=Tomas|last=Jivanda|date=19 January 2014|accessdate=8 February 2014|location=London}}</ref>

In June 2013, Putin attended a televised rally of the ] where he was elected head of the movement,<ref name=Putleader>, ] (13 June 2013) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915102802/http://www.interfax.co.uk/ukraine-news/putin-becomes-popular-front-for-russia-leader-2/ |date=15 September 2013 }}</ref> which was set up in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/echo-of-soviet-era-in-putins-bid-for-votes/story-e6frg6so-1226076653930|title=Echo of Soviet era in Putin's bid for votes|work=]|date=17 June 2011}}</ref> According to journalist ], the movement is intended to "reconnect the Kremlin to the Russian people" and one day, if necessary, replace the increasingly unpopular ] party that currently backs Putin.<ref name="People's Front">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22879644|title=Putin inaugurates new movement amid fresh protests|publisher=BBC|accessdate=12 June 2013|date=12 June 2013}}</ref>

==== Intervention in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea ====
{{main article|2014–15 Russian military intervention in Ukraine}}
In 2014, ] made several military incursions into ]. After ] protests and the fall of Ukrainian president ], ] took control of strategic positions and infrastructure within the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Russia then ] after a ] in which Crimeans voted to join the Russian Federation, according to official results.<ref name="Maskarovka">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b050674y|title=BBC Radio 4 - Analysis, Maskirovka: Deception Russian-Style|work=BBC|accessdate= 11 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/putin-changes-course-admits-russian-troops-were-in-crimea-before-vote/2014/04/17/b3300a54-c617-11e3-bf7a-be01a9b69cf1_story.html|title=Putin's remarks raise fears of future moves against Ukraine&nbsp;— The Washington Post |publisher=washingtonpost.com |accessdate=14 September 2014 |first=Kathy |last=Lally |date=17 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="KremlinRU01">{{cite web|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/20796 |title=President of Russia |publisher=Eng.kremlin.ru |date=1 June 2010 |accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref> Subsequently, demonstrations by pro-Russian groups in the ] area of Ukraine escalated into an ] between the Ukrainian government and the Russia-backed separatist forces of the self-declared ] and ] People's Republics. In August, Russian military vehicles crossed the border in several locations of Donetsk Oblast.<ref name="Time0x01">{{cite news|url=http://time.com/3142580/ukrain-russia-luhansk-donetsk-rebels-reinforcements/|agency=TIME|author=Per Liljas|title=Rebels in Besieged Ukrainian City Reportedly Being Reinforced|date=19 August 2014|accessdate=28 August 2014|work=Time}}</ref><ref name="how the war transformed">{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/how-the-war-zone-transformed-between-june-16-and-sept-19-infographic-365795.html|title=How the war zone transformed between June 16 and Sept. 19|work=KyivPost|date=25 September 2014|accessdate=21 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="tanks white circles">{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/23/us-ukraine-crisis-tanks-exclusive-idUSKCN0IC1GE20141023|title=Exclusive: Charred tanks in Ukraine point to Russian involvement|work=Reuters | date=23 October 2014}}</ref><ref>unian, 8 April 2015 </ref> The incursion by the Russian military was seen as responsible for the defeat of Ukrainian forces in early September.<ref name="ch40x02">Channel 4 News, 2 September 2014 </ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/17/ukraine-ceasefire-frontline-counting-cost-war-uneasy-calm|title=Ukraine ceasefire leaves frontline counting cost of war in uneasy calm|author=Luke Harding|work=the Guardian|accessdate=29 December 2014}}</ref>

In November 2014, the Ukrainian military reported intensive movement of troops and equipment from Russia into the separatist controlled parts of eastern Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/kiev-claims-intensive-movements-troops-crossing-russia-123248755.html|title=Kiev claims 'intensive' movements of troops crossing from Russia|date=2 November 2014|work=AFP|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref> The Associated Press reported 80 unmarked military vehicles on the move in rebel-controlled areas.<ref name="various reuters">{{cite news | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/09/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSKBN0IT0AF20141109| title=worst east Ukraine shelling for month | date=9 November 2014 | agency=Reuters | accessdate=10 November 2014 | author=various reuters}}</ref> An ] Special Monitoring Mission observed convoys of heavy weapons and tanks in DPR-controlled territory without insignia.<ref name="osce.org">{{cite web | url=http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/126483 | title=Spot report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), 8 November 2014 | publisher=osce.org | date=8 November 2014 | accessdate=9 November 2014}}</ref> OSCE monitors further stated they observed vehicles transporting ammunition and soldiers' ] crossing the Russian-Ukrainian border under the guise of ] convoys.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30039004|title= Ukraine Crisis: Russian 'Cargo 200' Crossed Border&nbsp;— OSCE | publisher = ''BBC, UK'' | date=13 November 2014 | accessdate = 13 November 2014}}</ref> As of early August 2015, OSCE observed over 21 such vehicles marked with the Russian military code for soldiers killed in action.<ref>{{cite news|title = ОБСЕ заявляет, что на ростовских КПП были машины с надписью "груз 200"|url = http://ria.ru/world/20150806/1166231249.html|agency=RIA Novosti|date=6 August 2015|accessdate = 7 August 2015|language=ru}}</ref> According to '']'', Russia has tried to intimidate and silence human rights workers discussing Russian soldiers' deaths in the conflict.<ref name="Moscow Times">{{cite news | url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/moscow-stifles-dissent-as-russian-soldiers-return-from-ukraine-in-coffins/506979.html | title=Moscow Stifles Dissent as Soldiers Return From Ukraine in Coffins | work= ] | date=12 September 2014 | agency=Reuters | accessdate=9 November 2014}}</ref> OSCE repeatedly reported that its observers were denied access to the areas controlled by "combined Russian-separatist forces".<ref>{{cite web|title=Response to Special Representative in Ukraine Ambassador Martin Sajdik and OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Chief Monitor Ertugrul Apakan|url=http://osce.usmission.gov/nov_4_15_ukraine_sajdik_apakan.html|website=U.S. Mission to the OSCE|date=4 November 2015|accessdate=6 November 2015|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222145845/http://osce.usmission.gov/nov_4_15_ukraine_sajdik_apakan.html|archivedate=22 December 2015}}</ref>

The majority of members of the international community and organizations such as ] have condemned Russia for its actions in post-revolutionary Ukraine, accusing it of breaking international law and violating Ukrainian sovereignty. Many countries implemented ]{{snd}} to which Russia responded in kind.

In October 2015, '']'' reported that Russia has redeployed some of its elite units from Ukraine to ] in recent weeks to support ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/10/24/russia-said-to-redeploy-special-ops-forces-from-ukraine-to-syria/ |title=Russia said to redeploy special-ops forces from Ukraine to Syria |publisher=] |date=24 October 2015 |accessdate=24 October 2015 |quote="The special forces were pulled out of Ukraine and sent to Syria," a Russian Ministry of Defense official said, adding that they had been serving in territories in eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russia rebels. The official described them as "akin to a Delta Force," the U.S. Army’s elite counterterrorism unit.}}</ref> In December 2015, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin admitted that Russian military intelligence officers were operating in Ukraine.<ref name=GN151217>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/vladimir-putin-admits-russian-military-presence-ukraine |title= Putin admits Russian military presence in Ukraine for first time |first= Shaun |last= Walker |work= The Guardian |date= 17 December 2015 }}</ref>

====2015 Russian military intervention in Syria====
{{main article|Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War}}
{{see also|Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil War}}
On 30 September 2015, President Putin authorized Russian military intervention in the ], following a formal request by the Syrian government for military help against rebel and jihadist groups.<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-kremlin-oks-troops-20150930-story.html|title=Russia Launches Airstrikes in Syria Amid U.S. Concern About Targets|date=30 September 2015|accessdate=7 October 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|author1=Patrick J. McDonnell|author2=W.J. Hennigan|author3=Nabih Bulos}}</ref>

The Russian military activities consisted of air strikes, cruise missile strikes and the use of front line advisors against militant groups opposed to the ], including the ] (ISIL), ] and the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/10/08/syrian-general-russian-strikes-helping-ground-offensive|title=Clashes between Syrian troops, insurgents intensify in Russian-backed offensive|date=8 October 2015|accessdate=10 October 2015|work=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syrian-army-general-says-new-ground-offensive-backed-by-russian-air-strikes-will-eliminate-a6686086.html|title=Syrian army general says new ground offensive backed by Russian air strikes will 'eliminate terrorists'|first=Lizzie|last=Dearden|date=8 October 2015|accessdate=10 October 2015|work=The Independent}}</ref> After Putin′s announcement on 14 March 2016 that the mission he had set for the Russian military in Syria had been ″largely accomplished" and ordered the withdrawal of the "main part" of the Russian forces from Syria,<ref name="BBC 14 Mar 2016">{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35807689 |title=Syria conflict: Russia's Putin orders 'main part' of forces out |work=] |date=14 March 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2016}}</ref> Russian forces deployed in Syria continued to actively operate in support of the Syrian government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsru.com/russia/18mar2016/sir.html|title=Новости NEWSru.com :: Генштаб ВС РФ объявил о новых авиаударах по террористам в Сирии|publisher=|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref>

== Domestic policies ==
{{main article|Domestic policies of Vladimir Putin}}
Putin's domestic policies, especially early in his first presidency, were aimed at creating a vertical power structure. On 13 May 2000, he issued a decree putting the 89 ] into seven administrative ] and appointed a presidential envoy responsible for each of those districts (whose official title is Plenipotentiary Representative).<ref>{{cite book|author1=World Freedom Foundation|title=Vladimir Putin – Direct Speech Without Cuts|date=2015|isbn=132939092X|page=44|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AjAyCgAAQBAJ}}</ref>

] for administrative purposes. On 19 January 2010, the 8th ] (shown here in purple) was split from ]. On 21 March 2014, the new 9th ] was formed after the ], but on 28 July 2016 it was incorporated into Southern Federal District.]]

According to Stephen White, Russia under the presidency of Putin made it clear that it had no intention of establishing a "second edition" of the American or British political system, but rather a system that was closer to Russia's own traditions and circumstances.<ref>{{cite book|last1=White|first1=Stephen|editor1-first=Stephen|editor1-last=White|title=Developments in Russian Politics 7|year=2010|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|location=New York|isbn=978-0-230-22449-0|chapter=Classifying Russia's Politics}}</ref> Some commentators have described Putin's administration as a "]".<ref>R. Sakwa, ''Putin: Russia's Choice'', 2008, p. 42-43</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Okara|first1=Andrei|title=Sovereign Democracy: A New Russian Idea Or a PR Project?|journal=Russia in Global Affairs|date=July–September 2007|volume=5|issue=3|url=http://kms2.isn.ethz.ch/serviceengine/Files/RESSpecNet/39702/ichaptersection_singledocument/576378B1-E97E-4EC1-9894-FB6F430EA76E/en/02+Sover+Democracy.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Petrov|first1=Nikolai|title=From Managed Democracy to Sovereign Democracy|date=December 2005|url=https://www.gwu.edu/~ieresgwu/assets/docs/ponars/pm_0396.pdf|publisher=Center for Political-Geographic Research}}</ref>

According to the proponents of that description, the government's actions and policies ought above all to enjoy popular support within Russia itself and not be determined from outside the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edinros.ru/news.html?id=111148 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212215743/http://www.edinros.ru/news.html?id=111148 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=12 February 2008 |title=Sovereignty is a Political Synonym of Competitiveness |first=Vladislav |last=Surkov |date=7 February 2006 |accessdate=18 August 2016}}</ref>

In July 2000, according to a law proposed by Putin and approved by the ], Putin gained the right to dismiss heads of the 89 federal subjects. In 2004, the direct election of those ] by popular vote was replaced with a system whereby they would be nominated by the President and approved or disapproved by regional legislatures.<ref>Lynch, Dov (2005). . '']'' 81 (1), 141–161.</ref><ref>, ], 13 September 2004.</ref> This was seen by Putin as a necessary move to stop separatist tendencies and get rid of those governors who were connected with organised crime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radiovesti.ru/articles/2011-12-15/fm/24575|title=Президентское фильтрование губернаторов оценили политики|publisher=Radiovesti.ru|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> This and other government actions effected under Putin's presidency have been criticised by many independent Russian media outlets and Western commentators as anti-democratic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kramer|first=Andrew E.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/world/europe/22russia.html?pagewanted=print|title=50% Good News Is the Bad News in Russian Radio|location=Russia|work=The New York Times|date=22 April 2007|accessdate=24 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Masha Lipman |author2=Anders Aslund |url=http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail&id=745|title=Russian Media Criticism of Vladimir Putin: Evidence and Significance|publisher=Carnegieendowment.org|date=2 December 2004|accessdate=2 March 2010}}</ref> In 2012, as proposed by Putin's successor, Dmitry Medvedev, the direct election of governors was re-introduced.<ref name=liberal-reforms>{{cite news|url=http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120228/171592651.html |title=State Duma Approves Liberal Political Reforms |agency=RIA Novosti |date=28 February 2012 |accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref>

During his first term in office, Putin opposed some of the Yeltsin-era ], as well as his political opponents, resulting in the exile or imprisonment of such people as ], ], ]; other oligarchs such as ] and ] are friends and allies with Putin.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/profile/arkady-rotenberg/|title=Arkady Rotenberg|publisher=Forbes.com|year=2013|accessdate=23 December 2013}}</ref>

Putin succeeded in codifying land law and tax law and promulgated new codes on labour, administrative, criminal, commercial and civil procedural law.<ref name=sharlet>{{cite book|last=Sharlet|first=Robert|title=Developments in Russian Politics|editors=White, Gitelman, Sakwa|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2005|volume=6|chapter=In Search of the Rule of Law|isbn=0-8223-3522-0}}</ref> Under Medvedev's presidency, Putin's government implemented some key reforms in the area of state security, the ] and the ].

=== Economic, industrial, and energy policies ===
{{See also|Economy of Russia|Russian financial crisis (2014–present)|Great Recession in Russia|Energy policy of Russia}}
{{update|section|date=February 2016}}
]]]
], including ]<ref name="Putin 2007"/><ref name="Fragile Empire 2013 page 17"/>]]
Fueled by the ] including record ],<ref name="Putin 2007"/><ref name="Fragile Empire 2013 page 17"/> under the Putin administration from 2001 to 2007, the economy made ] of an average 7% per year,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=1993&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=49&pr1.y=11&c=922&s=NGDP_RPCH&grp=0&a=|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|publisher=Imf.org|date=14 September 2006|accessdate=9 December 2011}}</ref> making it the 7th largest economy in the world in ]. In 2007, Russia's GDP exceeded that of ] in 1990, having recovered from the ] and the preceding recession in the 1990s.<ref name=stats>{{cite news|url=http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20080301/100381963.html|title=Russia's economy under Vladimir Putin: achievements and failures |agency=RIA Novosti |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

During Putin's first eight years in office, industry grew substantially, as did production, construction, real incomes, credit, and the middle class.<ref name=nbc>{{cite news|title=Russians weigh Putin's protégé|agency=Associated Press|location=Moscow|date=3 May 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24443419/print/1/displaymode/1098/|accessdate=29 December 2008}}</ref><ref name="stats"/><ref name=russiaprofile>. Russia Profile, 15 August 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2008</ref><ref name=samaratoday>{{cite web|url=http://bank.samaratoday.ru/showNews.php?idNews=741|title=Ежегодно объем потребительского кредитования в России удваивается|publisher=Bank.samaratoday.ru|accessdate=2 March 2010}}</ref><ref name=gks>{{cite web|url=http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/2006/b06_11/07-01.htm|title=Основные Социально-Экономические Индикаторы Уровня Жизни Населения|publisher=Gks.ru|accessdate=2 March 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218100817/http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/2006/b06_11/07-01.htm|archivedate=18 February 2012 }}</ref> Putin has also been praised for eliminating widespread ] and thus boosting the economy.<ref name=challenges_of_medv_era>Iikka. Korhonen ''et al.'' . Bank of Finland's Institute for Economies in Transition, 24 June 2008.</ref> Inflation remained a problem however.<ref name=stats/>

] allowed Russia to repay all of the Soviet Union's debts by 2005.<ref name=stats/> Russia joined the ] on 22 August 2012.

] and ] to much of Europe]]
Control over the economy was increased by placing individuals from the intelligence services and the military, in key positions of the Russian economy, including on boards of large companies.
In 2005 an industry consolidation programme was launched to bring the main aircraft producing companies under a single umbrella organization, the ] (UAC). The aim was to optimize production lines and minimise losses.<ref name=ato1>{{cite journal|url=http://www.ato.ru/content/state-sponsored-consolidation|title=State-sponsored consolidation|last1=Zvereva|first1=Polina|journal=Russia & CIS Observer|issue=26|volume=3|date=11 October 2009}}</ref> The UAC is one of Russia's "]" and comparable to ] in Europe.<ref name=UAC2009>{{cite web|url=http://www.uacrussia.ru/common/img/uploaded/disclosure/Annual_Report_2009e.pdf|title=Annual Report 2009|publisher=United Aircraft Corporation|year=2010}}</ref>

A programme was started to increase ] by building submerged gas pipelines bypassing ] and other countries which were often seen as non-reliable transit partners by Russia, especially following ] of the late 2000s (decade). Russia also undermined the rival pipeline project ] by buying the ] gas and redirecting it into Russian pipelines.

Russia diversified its export markets by building the ] to the markets of China, Japan and ], as well as the ] in the ]. Russia has also recently built several major oil and gas refineries, plants and ports. Construction of major hydropower plants, such as the ] and the ], as well as the restoration of the ], with 1&nbsp;trillion rubles ($42.7&nbsp;billion) were allocated from the federal budget to nuclear power and industry development before 2015.<ref> at amur.kp.ru</ref> A large number of nuclear power stations and units are currently being constructed by the state corporation ] in Russia and abroad.

] signed a $400 billion ]]]
A construction program of ] will provide power to Russian Arctic coastal cities and ]s, starting in 2012.<ref name=Floating_nuclear_plant1>{{cite news|author=Richard Galpin|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11381773|title=The struggle for Arctic riches|publisher=BBC News|date=22 September 2010|accessdate=28 August 2011}}</ref><ref name=Floating_nuclear_plant2>{{cite web|author=Peter Fairley|url=http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/nuclear/russia-launches-floating-nuclear-power-plant|title=Russia Launches Floating Nuclear Power Plant|publisher=IEEE Spectrum|date=2 July 2010|accessdate=28 August 2011}}</ref> The ] also includes an offshore oilfield in the ] is expected to start producing in early 2012, with the world's first ice-resistant ] and first offshore Arctic platform.<ref name=Prirazlomnoye_TASS>{{cite news|url=http://www.itar-tass.com/c32/212487_print.html |title=Prirazlmonaya sea platform to be delivered to offshore oil field |agency=Information Telegraph Agency of Russia |date=26 August 2011 |accessdate=28 August 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125063959/http://www.itar-tass.com/c32/212487_print.html |archivedate=25 January 2012 }}</ref> In August 2011 ], a Russian government-operated oil company, signed a deal with ] for Arctic oil production.<ref name=Exxon-Rosneft>{{cite news|author=Andrew Kramer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/business/global/exxon-and-rosneft-partner-in-russian-oil-deal.html|title=Exxon Reaches Arctic Oil Deal With Russians|date=30 August 2011|accessdate=5 September 2011|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

The construction of a pipeline at a cost of $77 billion, to be jointly funded by Russia and China, was signed off on by President Putin in Shanghai on 21 May 2014. On completion in 4 to 6 years, the pipeline would deliver natural gas from the state-majority-owned ] to China's state-owned ] for the next 30 years, in a deal worth $400bn.<ref name="CNPCdeal">{{cite news|title=China and Russia sign $400 billion 30-year gas deal|url=http://www.russiaherald.com/index.php/sid/222206767/scat/723971d98160d438/ht/China-and-Russia-sign-400-billion-30-year-gas-deal|accessdate=22 May 2014|publisher=''Russia Herald''}}</ref>

In 2014, the ] named Putin their Person of the Year Award for furthering corruption and organized crime.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://occrp.org/person-of-the-year/2014/ |title= OCCRP 2014 Person of the Year |accessdate= 31 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/vladimir-putin-named-person-year-innovation-organised-crime-1481739 |title=Vladimir Putin named Person of the Year for 'innovation' in 'organised crime' |work=International Business Times |date=3 January 2015}}</ref>

==== 2014 financial crisis and economic downturn ====
The ] began in the second half of 2014 when the Russian ruble collapsed due to a decline in the price of oil and ]. These events in turn led to loss of investor confidence and capital flight.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kitroeff|first1=Natalie Natalie|last2=Weisenthal|first2=Joe|title=Here's Why the Russian Ruble Is Collapsing|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-16/no-caviar-is-not-getting-cheaper-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-russian-ruble-collapse|agency=Bloomberg|date=16 December 2014}}</ref>

Russia responded with its own sanctions against the West. Additionally, to compensate for the sanctions, Russia developed closer economic ties with Eastern countries.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} In October 2014, energy, trade and finance agreements with China worth $25 billion were signed. The following year, a $400 billion 30-year natural gas supply agreement was also signed with China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-china-banks-idUSKCN0I20WG20141013|title=Russia signs deals with China to help weather sanctions|date=13 October 2014|accessdate=12 January 2015|work=CNBC}}</ref>

=== Environmental policy ===
{{main article|Environment of Russia|Environmental issues in Russia}}

In 2004, President Putin signed the ] treaty designed to reduce greenhouse gases.<ref>''The New York Times''. 6 November 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2008.</ref> However Russia did not face mandatory cuts, because the Kyoto Protocol limits emissions to a percentage increase or decrease from 1990 levels and Russia's greenhouse-gas emissions fell well below the 1990 baseline due to a drop in economic output after the breakup of the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/13640/g8s_gradual_move_toward_postkyoto_climate_change_policy.html|title=G8's Gradual Move toward Post-Kyoto Climate Change Policy |author=Tony Johnson|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations |accessdate=2 March 2010}}</ref>

Putin personally supervises a number of protection programmes for rare and endangered animals in Russia, such as the ], the ], the ] and the ].<ref> premier.gov.ru {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718064135/http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/tiger/ |date=18 July 2012 }}</ref><ref> premier.gov.ru {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613063658/http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/beluha/ |date=13 June 2012 }}</ref><ref> premier.gov.ru {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613064004/http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/bear/ |date=13 June 2012 }}</ref><ref> premier.gov.ru {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613063809/http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/leopard/ |date=13 June 2012 }}</ref>

=== Religious policy ===
{{main article|Religion in Russia}}
]
], ], ], and ], defined by law as Russia's traditional religions and a part of Russia's historical heritage<ref>{{Cite book|author=Bell, I|title=Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia|url=https://books.google.com/?id=EPP3ti4hysUC&pg=PA47|accessdate=27 December 2007|isbn=978-1-85743-137-7|year=2002}}</ref> enjoyed limited state support in the Putin era. The vast construction and restoration of churches, started in the 1990s, continued under Putin, and the state allowed the teaching of religion in schools (parents are provided with a choice for their children to learn the basics of one of the traditional religions or secular ethics). His approach to religious policy has been characterised as one of support for religious freedoms, but also the attempt to unify different religions under the authority of the state.<ref>''A religion for the nation or a nation for the religion: Putin's third way for Russia'', Beth Admiraal, in ''Russian Nationalism and the National Reassertion of Russia'', edited by Marlène Laruelle, (Routledge, 2009)</ref> In 2012, Putin was honored in ] and a street was named after him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-27/bethlehem-street-named-after-putin/4094628|title=Bethlehem street named after Putin|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=27 June 2012|accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

], Siberia, 2007]]
Putin regularly attends the most important services of the ] on the main ] holidays. He established a good relationship with ] of the Russian Church, the late ] and the current ]. As President, he took an active personal part in promoting the ], signed 17 May 2007 that restored relations between the Moscow-based ] and the ] after the 80-year schism.<ref>{{cite press release|title=he President of Russia attended the ceremonial signing of the Act on Canonical Communion that was held in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour|publisher=]|date=17 May 2007|url=http://www.rusembcanada.mid.ru/pr2007/022.html|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5bGjBVfm6?url=http://www.rusembcanada.mid.ru/pr2007/022.html|archivedate=2 October 2008|accessdate=2 October 2008}}</ref>

Putin and ] enjoy high electoral support in the national ], in particular in the Muslim-majority republics of ] and the ].

Under Putin, the ] ] became increasingly influential within the Jewish community, partly due to the influence of Federation-supporting businessmen mediated through their alliances with Putin, notably ] and ].<ref name="Russia">''No love lost'', Yossi Mehlman, ''Haaretz'', 11 December 2005</ref><ref>Phyllis Berman Lea Goldman, (15 September 2003). . ''Forbes''</ref> According to the ], Putin is popular amongst the ] community, who see him as a force for stability. Russia's chief rabbi, ], said Putin "paid great attention to the needs of our community and related to us with a deep respect".<ref>{{cite web|last=Krichevksy |first=Lev |url=http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/Article.aspx?id=241225 |title="In Putin's return, Russian Jews see stability". Jewish Telegraphic Agency|work=The Jerusalem Post|date= 10 October 2011 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> In 2016, ], the president of the ], also praised Putin for making Russia "a country where Jews are welcome".<ref name="wjcrussiafight">{{cite web|title=Ronald S. Lauder: Russia’s fight against anti-Semitism isn’t just good for Jews – it’s good for Russia as well|url=http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/ronald-s-lauder-russias-fight-against-anti-semitism-isnt-just-good-for-jews--its-good-for-russia-as-well-11-2-2016|website=World Jewish Congress|accessdate=1 November 2016|date=1 November 2016}}</ref>

=== Military development ===
{{main article|Russian military reform}}
] ] before the flight, August 2005]]
]'' during ] exercise in 2005]]
The resumption of long-distance flights of Russia's ]s was followed by the announcement by Russian Defense Minister ] during his meeting with Putin on 5 December 2007, that 11 ships, including the aircraft carrier '']'', would take part in the first major navy sortie into the Mediterranean since Soviet times.<ref>, 5 December 2007, Kremlin.ru</ref> The sortie was to be backed up by 47&nbsp;aircraft, including strategic bombers.<ref>Guy Faulconbridge . Reuters. 5 December 2007.</ref>

While from the early 2000s (decade) Russia started placing more money into its military and defence industry, it was only in 2008 that the full-scale ] began, aiming to modernize Russian Armed Forces and making them significantly more effective. The reform was largely carried out by Defense Minister ] during Medvedev's Presidency, under the supervision of both Putin, as the Head of Government, and Medvedev, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces.

Key elements of the reform included reducing the armed forces to a strength of one million; reducing the number of officers; centralising officer training from 65 military schools into 10 'systemic' military training centres; creating a professional ] corps; reducing the size of the central command; introducing more civilian logistics and auxiliary staff; elimination of cadre-strength formations; reorganising the reserves; reorganising the army into a brigade system; reorganising air forces into an air base system instead of regiments.<ref name=military-reform>{{cite news|url=http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20081017/117787642.html |title=Military reform to change army structure. What about its substance? |agency=RIA Novosti |date=17 October 2008 |accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref>

The number of Russia's ]s was reduced to four. The term of draft service was reduced from two years to one, which put an end to the old ], since all conscripts became very close by draft age. The gradual transition to the majority professional army by the late 2010s was announced, and a large programme of supplying the Armed Forces with new military equipment and ships was started. The ] were replaced on 1 December 2011 with the ].

In spite of Putin's call for major investments in strategic nuclear weapons, these will fall well below the ] limits due to the retirement of aging systems.<ref>Kristensen, Hans M. ''FAS'', 3 October 2012.</ref>

Putin has also sought to increase Russian territorial claims in the Arctic and its military presence here. In August 2007, Russian expedition ], part of research related to the ], planted a flag on the seabed below the ].<ref name=pole_flag>{{cite news|author=William J. Broad|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/world/europe/19arctic.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1311810481-IXSrMDBjzhfGopGmYcf6tw|title=Russia's Claim Under Polar Ice Irks American|work=The New York Times|date=19 February 2008|accessdate=27 July 2011}}</ref> Both Russian submarines and troops deployed in the Arctic have been increasing.<ref name=Military_buildup1>{{cite news|author=Adrian Blomfield|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/2111507/Russia-plans-Arctic-military-build-up.html|title=Russia plans Arctic military build-up|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 June 2008|accessdate=27 July 2011|location=London}}</ref><ref name=Military_buildup2>{{cite web|author=Mia Bennett|url=http://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2011/07/04/russia-arctic-states-solidifying-northern-military-presence/|title=Russia, Like Other Arctic States, Solidifies Northern Military Presence|publisher=Foreign Policy Association|date=4 July 2011|accessdate=27 July 2011}}</ref>

=== Human rights policy ===
{{main article|Human rights in Russia}}
{{see also|Russian foreign agent law|Internet Restriction Bill|Dima Yakovlev Law}}

According to ] since May 2012, when Putin was reelected as president, Russia has enacted many restrictive laws, started inspections of nongovernmental organizations, harassed, intimidated, and imprisoned political activists, and started to restrict critics. The new laws include the "foreign agents" law, which is widely regarded as over-broad by including Russian human rights organizations which receive some international grant funding, the treason law, and the assembly law which penalizes many expressions of dissent.<ref> Human Rights Watch pdf report 24 April 2013</ref><ref> Human Rights Watch Summary 24 April 2013</ref>

=== The media ===
Since 1999 Putin has reportedly punished journalists who challenge his official point of view.<ref>Scott Gehlbach, "Reflections on Putin and the Media." ''Post-Soviet Affairs'' 26#1 (2010): 77–87</ref> Maria Lipman says, "The crackdown that followed Putin's return to the Kremlin in 2012 extended to the liberal media, which had until then been allowed to operate fairly independently."<ref>Maria Lipman, "How Putin Silences Dissent: Inside the Kremlin's Crackdown." ''Foreign Affairs'' 95#1 (2016): 38.</ref> The Internet has attracted Putin's attention because his critics have tried to use it to challenge his control of information.<ref>Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, ''The Red Web: The Struggle Between Russia’s Digital Dictators and the New Online Revolutionaries'' (2015).</ref> Marian K. Leighton says, "Having muzzled Russia's print and broadcast media, Putin focused his energies on the Internet."<ref>Marian K. Leighton, "Muzzling the Russian Media Again." (2016): 820–826.</ref> Robert W. Orttung and Christopher Walker report:
:], for instance, ranked Russia 148 in its 2013 list of 179 countries in terms of freedom of the press. It particularly criticized Russia for the crackdown on the political opposition and the failure of the authorities to vigorously pursue and bring to justice criminals who have murdered journalists. ] ranks Russian media as “not free,” indicating that basic safeguards and guarantees for journalists and media enterprises are absent.<ref>Robert W. Orttung and Christopher Walker, "Putin and Russia’s crippled media." ''Russian Analytical Digest'' 21.123 (2013): 2–6 </ref>

=== Promoting conservatism ===
Putin has promoted explicitly conservative policies in social, cultural and political matters, both at home and abroad. Putin has attacked ] and ] and is identified by scholars with Russian conservatism.<ref>Sergei Prozorov, "Russian conservatism in the Putin presidency: The dispersion of a hegemonic discourse." ''Journal of Political Ideologies'' 10#2 (2005): 121–143.</ref> Putin has promoted new think tanks that bring together like-minded intellectuals and writers. For example, the Izborsky Club, founded in 2012 by Aleksandr Prokhanov, stresses Russian nationalism, the restoration of Russia's historical greatness, and systematic opposition to liberal ideas and policies.<ref>Marlene Laruelle, "The Izborsky Club, or the New Conservative Avant‐Garde in Russia." ''Russian Review'' 75#4 (2016): 626–644.</ref> ], a senior government official has been one of the key ideologists during Putin's presidency.<ref>Sirke Mäkinen, "Surkovian narrative on the future of Russia: making Russia a world leader." ''Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics'' 27#2 (2011): 143–165.</ref>

In cultural and social affairs Putin has collaborated closely with the ]. ], head of the Church, endorsed his election in 2012 stating Putin's terms were like "a miracle of God."<ref>{{cite book|author=Julia Gerlach and Jochen Töpfer, eds.|title=The Role of Religion in Eastern Europe Today|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1F6vBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA135|year=2014|publisher=Springer|page=135}}</ref> Steven Myers reports, "The church, once heavily repressed, had emerged from the Soviet collapse as one of the most respected institutions... Now Kiril led the faithful directly into an alliance with the state."<ref>{{cite book|author=Myers|title=The New Tsar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1PO4DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA404|year=2016|page=404}}</ref> Mark Woods provides specific examples of how the Church has backed the expansion of Russian power into Crimea and eastern Ukraine.<ref>Mark Woods, "How the Russian Orthodox Church is backing Vladimir Putin's new world order" </ref> More broadly the ''New York Times'' reports in September 2016 how that Church's policy prescriptions support the Kremlin's appeal to social conservatives:
: A fervent foe of homosexuality and any attempt to put individual rights above those of family, community or nation, the Russian Orthodox Church helps project Russia as the natural ally of all those who pine for a more secure, illiberal world free from the tradition-crushing rush of globalization, multiculturalism and women’s and gay rights.<ref>Andrew Higgins, "In Expanding Russian Influence, Faith Combines With Firepower," </ref>

== Foreign policy ==
{{Main article|Foreign policy of Vladimir Putin}}
{{see also|Foreign relations of Russia|List of presidential trips made by Vladimir Putin}}

=== Relations with South and East Asia ===
{{see also|India–Russia relations|People's Republic of China-Russia relations|Shanghai Cooperation Organisation}}
] at the ]]]
In 2012, Putin wrote an article in ] newspaper, saying that "The Declaration on Strategic Partnership between India and Russia signed in October 2000 became a truly historic step".<ref>{{cite news|author=Vladimir Putin |url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/for-russia-deepening-friendship-with-india-is-a-top-foreign-policy-priority/article4232857.ece |title=For Russia, deepening friendship with India is a top foreign policy priority by President Vladimir Putin |work=The Hindu |date=24 December 2012 |accessdate=22 June 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20834910 |title=India, Russia sign new defence deals |publisher=BBC |date=24 December 2012 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> ] during Putin's 2012 visit to India: "President Putin is a valued friend of India and the original architect of the India-Russia strategic partnership".<ref>{{cite web|author=Rajeev Sharma, specially for RIR |url=http://indrus.in/articles/2012/12/24/13th_indo-russian_summit_reaffirms_time-tested_tie_21243.html |title=13th Indo-Russian Summit reaffirms time-tested ties: Russia & India Report|publisher=Indrus.in|date=24 December 2012|accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

Putin's Russia maintains positive relations with other ]. The country has sought to strengthen ties especially with the People's Republic of China by signing the ] as well as building the ] geared toward growing Chinese energy needs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704082104575515543164948682.html|title=Russian Oil Route Will Open to China|first=Jeremy|last=Page|newspaper=]|date=26 September 2010|accessdate=28 September 2010}}</ref> The mutual-security cooperation of the two countries and their central Asian neighbours is facilitated by the ] which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, ], ], Russia, ], and ].

The announcement made during the SCO summit that Russia resumes on a permanent basis the long-distance patrol flights of its strategic bombers (suspended in 1992)<ref name=heavy-fighters-statement>, 17 August 2007, Chelyabinsk Region.</ref><ref name=rian-heavy-bombers>, 17 August 2007, RIA Novosti, Russia.</ref> in the light of joint Russian-Chinese military exercises, first-ever in history held on Russian territory,<ref name=km-sco-joint-exercises>, 8 August 2007, KM.ru {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210143912/http://student.km.ru/view.asp?id=4BD4CBA669F042EAB8331FB653FC38FE&idrubr=5D21D4E03EB74A98AAA30F8F45C5E31E |date=10 February 2012 }}</ref> made some experts believe that Putin is inclined to set up an anti-] bloc or the Asian version of ].<ref>, 20 August 2007, "Chas", Latvia. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208041825/http://www.chas-daily.com/win/2007/08/20/v_034.html?r=3 |date=8 February 2012 }}</ref> When presented with the suggestion that "Western observers are already likening the SCO to a military organisation that would stand in opposition to NATO", Putin answered that "this kind of comparison is inappropriate in both form and substance".<ref name=heavy-fighters-statement/>

===Relations with post-Soviet states===
{{Further information|Colour revolution|Russia–Ukraine gas disputes|Russia–Ukraine relations|Belarus–Russia relations|Georgia–Russia relations|Kyrgyzstan–Russia relations|Kazakhstan–Russia relations|Eurasian Economic Union}}
A series of so-called ]s in the ], namely the ] in Georgia in 2003, the ] in Ukraine in 2004 and the ] in Kyrgyzstan in 2005, led to frictions in the relations of those countries with Russia. In December 2004, Putin criticised the Rose and Orange revolutions, saying: "If you have permanent revolutions you risk plunging the post-Soviet space into endless conflict".<ref name=blueandorange>, ] (24 December 2004)</ref>

], then-president of Georgia, in 2008]]
A number of economic disputes erupted between Russia and some neighbours, such as the ]. And in some cases, such as the ], the economic conflicts affected other European countries, for example when a ] led ] Russian company ] to halt its deliveries of natural gas to Ukraine,<ref name=naturalgas>, ] (20 January 2009).</ref> which left a number of European states, to which Ukraine transits Russian gas, with serious shortages of natural gas in January 2009.<ref name=naturalgas/>

The plans of ] and ] to become members of ] have caused some tensions between Russia and those states.<ref>"". '']''. 23 November 2013.</ref> In 2010, Ukraine did abandon these plans.<ref>, ] (3 June 2010)</ref> Putin allegedly declared at a NATO-Russia summit in 2008 that if Ukraine joined NATO Russia could contend to annex the ] and ].<ref>, '']'' (30 November 2010)</ref> At the summit he told US President ] that "Ukraine is not even a state!" while the following year Putin referred to Ukraine as "]".<ref>Bohm, M. ''''. '']''. 25 December 2013</ref> Following the ] in March 2014, ].<ref name="walker-the-guardian-2014-descend">{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Shaun|date=4 March 2014|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/04/ukraine-crisis-russian-troops-crimea-john-kerry-kiev|title=Russian takeover of Crimea will not descend into war, says Vladimir Putin|newspaper=]|location=London|accessdate=4 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="bloomberg-news-2014-request">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-04/russia-calls-ukraine-intervention-legal-citing-yanukovych-letter.html|title=Russia Stays in Ukraine as Putin Channels Yanukovych Request|first1=Sangwon|last1=Yoon|first2=Daryna|last2=Krasnolutska|first3=Kateryna|last3=Choursina|date=4 March 2014|accessdate=5 March 2014|work=]}}</ref><ref name=Radyuhin>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/russian-parliament-approves-use-of-force-in-crimea/article5739708.ece |title=Russian Parliament approves use of army in Ukraine|work=The Hindu|date=1 March 2014|first=Vladimir|last=Radyuhin|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> According to Putin this was done because "] has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia".<ref>{{cite news|title=Vladimir Putin signs treaty for Russia to take Crimea from Ukraine – video|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/mar/18/vladimir-putin-annex-crimea-russia-ukraine-video|accessdate=28 December 2014|work=The Guardian|date=18 March 2014}}</ref> After the Russian annexion of Crimea he said that Ukraine includes "regions of Russia's historic south" and "was created on a whim by the ]".<ref name="cbsnews.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-president-vladimir-putin-approves-draft-bill-to-annex-crimea-after-residents-vote-to-leave-ukraine/ | work=CBS News | title=Russia President Vladimir Putin signs treaty to annex Crimea after residents vote to leave Ukraine | date=18 March 2014}}</ref> He went on to declare that the ] of ] ] had been orchestrated by the West as an attempt to weaken Russia. "Our Western partners have crossed a line. They behaved rudely, irresponsibly and unprofessionally," he said, adding that the people who had come to power in Ukraine were "], ], ] and ]".<ref name="cbsnews.com"/> In a July 2014 speech midst ] ] Putin stated he would use Russia's "entire arsenal" and "the right of self defence" to protect ] outside Russia.<ref></ref>

In late August 2014, Putin stated: "People who have their own views on history and the ] may argue with me, but it seems to me that the ] and ]s are practically one people".<ref>, ] (29 August 2014)</ref> After making a similar statement late December 2015 he stated: "the ], as well as ], surely has a source of its own".<ref>, ] (26 December 2015)</ref>

] with its current members: Russia, ], ], ] and ]]]
In August 2008, ] ] attempted to restore control over the breakaway ]. However, the Georgian military was soon defeated in the resulting ] after regular Russian forces entered South Ossetia and then Georgia proper, then also opened a second front in the other Georgian breakaway province of ] against with Abkhazian forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/RussiaandEurasia/wm2017.cfm|title=Russia and Eurasia|publisher=Heritage.org|accessdate=10 May 2009|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5h7JPwfdR?url=http://www.heritage.org/research/RussiaandEurasia/wm2017.cfm|archivedate=28 May 2009|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7551576.stm|title=Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis|publisher=BBC News|date=21 August 2008|accessdate=10 May 2009}}</ref> During this conflict, according to French diplomat ], Putin intended to depose the Georgian President and declared: "I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1085468/Putin-planned-topple-president-Georgia-hang-b---says-Nicolas-Sarkozys-chief-adviser.html|title=Putin planned to topple the president of Georgia and 'hang him by the b****', says Nicolas Sarkozy's chief adviser|work=]|date=14 November 2008|location=London|first=Ian|last=Sparks}}</ref>

Despite existing or past tensions between Russia and most of the post-Soviet states, Putin has followed the policy of Eurasian integration. Putin endorsed the idea of a ] in 2011,<ref>, ] (3 October 2011)</ref><ref> {{ru icon}}</ref><ref name=yahoo-reuters>{{cite news|title=Russia's Putin says wants to build "Eurasian Union" |first=Gleb |last=Bryanski |url=https://news.yahoo.com/russias-putin-says-wants-build-eurasian-union-222139037.html |publisher=] |agency=] |date=3 October 2011 |accessdate=4 October 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006174652/http://news.yahoo.com/russias-putin-says-wants-build-eurasian-union-222139037.html |archivedate=6 October 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|script-title=ru:Новый интеграционный проект для Евразии – будущее, которое рождается сегодня|url=http://www.izvestia.ru/news/502761|newspaper=]|language=Russian|date=3 October 2011|accessdate=4 October 2011}}</ref> The concept was proposed by the ] in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kazakhstan welcomes Putin's Eurasian Union concept|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/kazakhstan/8808500/Kazakhstan-welcomes-Putins-Eurasian-Union-concept.html|newspaper=]|date=6 October 2011|accessdate=8 October 2011|location=London|first=James|last=Kilner}}</ref> On 18 November 2011, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia signed an agreement setting a target of establishing the Eurasian Union by 2015.<ref name=bbc18Nov2011>{{cite news|title=Russia sees union with Belarus and Kazakhstan by 2015|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15790452|publisher=BBC News|date=18 November 2011|accessdate=19 November 2011}}</ref> The Eurasian Union was established on 1 January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://docs.eaeunion.org/en-us/Pages/DisplayDocument.aspx?s=bef9c798-3978-42f3-9ef2-d0fb3d53b75f&w=632c7868-4ee2-4b21-bc64-1995328e6ef3&l=540294ae-c3c9-4511-9bf8-aaf5d6e0d169&EntityID=3610|title=Ru-ru|publisher=Eurasian Economic Union|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref>

=== Relations with the United States, Europe, and NATO ===
{{see also|NATO–Russia relations|Russia–United States relations|Anti-American sentiment in Russia}}
] in New York City, 29 September 2015]]
Under Putin, Russia's relationships with NATO and the U.S. have passed through several stages. When he first became President, relations were cautious, but after the ] Putin quickly supported the U.S. in the ] and the opportunity for partnership appeared.<ref name=Bi-Partisan> by ], ''Huffington Post''</ref> However, the U.S. responded by further expansion of ] to Russia's borders and by unilateral withdrawal from the 1972 ].<ref name=Bi-Partisan/>

From 2003, when Russia did not support the ] and when Putin became ever more distant from the West in his internal and external policies, relations continued to deteriorate. According to Russia scholar ], the narrative of the mainstream U.S. media, following that of the ], became anti-Putin.<ref name=Bi-Partisan/> In an interview with ], Putin said there were three questions which most concerned Russia and Eastern Europe: namely, the status of Kosovo, the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty and American plans to build missile defence sites in Poland and the Czech Republic, and suggested that all three were linked.<ref name=Sturmer>{{cite book|last=Stuermer|first=Michael|authorlink=Michael Stürmer|title=Putin and the Rise of Russia|year=2008|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|location=London|isbn=9780297855101|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E6UsAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=11 June 2012|pages=55, 57 & 192}}</ref> His view was that concessions by the West on one of the questions might be met with concessions from Russia on another.<ref name=Sturmer/>

In a January 2007 interview, Putin said Russia was in favor of a democratic ] world and strengthening the systems of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2007/01/18/0726_type82916_117121.shtml |title=Interview for Indian Television Channel Doordarshan and Press Trust of India News Agency, 18 January 2007 |publisher=Kremlin.ru |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

In February 2007, Putin criticized what he called the United States' monopolistic dominance in global relations, and "almost uncontained hyper use of force in international relations". He said the result of it is that "no one feels safe! Because no one can feel that ] is like a stone wall that will protect them. Of course such a policy stimulates an arms race".<ref name=Munich>43rd ]. , 10 February 2007.</ref> This came to be known as the ], and former NATO secretary ] called the speech, "disappointing and not helpful."<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|title=Putin's speech: Back to cold war? Putin's speech: Back to cold war?|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6350847.stm|publisher=BBC | first=Rob|last=Watson|date=10 February 2007}}</ref> The months following Putin's Munich Speech<ref name=Munich/> were marked by tension and a surge in rhetoric on both sides of the Atlantic. Both Russian and American officials, however, denied the idea of a new ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1123 |title=Munich Conference on Security Policy, As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, 11 February 2007 |publisher=Defenselink.mil |date= |accessdate=21 December 2013}}</ref>
Putin publicly opposed plans for the ] in Europe, and presented President ] with a counterproposal on 7 June 2007 which was declined.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2007/06/08/2251_type82914type82915_133552.shtml |title=Press Conference following the end of the G8 Summit |publisher=Kremlin.ru |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> Russia suspended its participation in the ] on 11 December 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Russia walks away from CFE arms treaty|url = http://fijilive.com/news/2007/12/russia-walks-away-from-cfe-arms-treaty/348.Fijilive|website = fijilive.com|accessdate = 31 July 2015|date = 12 December 2007}}</ref>

Putin opposed ]'s 2008 declaration of independence, warning supporters of that precedent that it would ''de facto'' destabilize the whole system of international relations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-239/0802233413164912.htm |title=EU's Solana rejects Putin's criticism over Kosovo's independence |publisher=IRNA |date=23 February 2008 |accessdate=25 February 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226194531/http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-239/0802233413164912.htm |archivedate=26 February 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/14/content_7604675.htm|title=Putin: supports for Kosovo unilateral independence "immoral, illegal"|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=14 February 2008|accessdate=25 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=44275&sectionid=351020602|title=Putin: Kosovo case terrible precedent|publisher=Press TV|date=22 February 2008|accessdate=25 February 2008}}</ref>

] at the opening of Russia Day at ] in Milan]]
Putin had friendly relations with former American President ], and many European leaders. His "cooler" and "more business-like" relationship with Germany's current Chancellor, ] is often attributed to Merkel's upbringing in the former ], where Putin was stationed as a KGB agent.<ref>{{cite news|last=Simpson |first=Emma |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4618860.stm |title=Merkel cools Berlin Moscow ties |publisher=BBC News |date=16 January 2006 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

In late 2013, Russian-American relations deteriorated further when the United States canceled a summit (for the first time since 1960) after Putin gave asylum to ], who had leaked classified information from the NSA.<ref name=Shuster>Shuster, Simon. "," '']'' 16 September 2013, pp 30–35</ref>

Relations were further strained after the ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/e3ace220-a252-11e4-9630-00144feab7de.html#axzz3Qy0uXrPK|title=Battle for Ukraine: How the west lost Putin|work=Financial Times|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref>

In 2014, Russia was suspended from the ] group as a result of its ] of ].<ref>, CNN</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-temporarily-kicked-out-of-g8-club-of-rich-countries-2014-3 |title=Russia Temporarily Kicked Out Of G8 Club Of Rich Countries |publisher=Business Insider |date=18 June 2013 |accessdate=25 March 2014}}</ref>

In June 2015, Putin told an Italian newspaper that Russia has no intention of attacking NATO.<ref>"". '']''. 7 June 2015.</ref>

On 9 November 2016, Putin congratulated ] on becoming the 45th President of the United States.<ref></ref>

In December 2016, US intelligence officials quoted by ] stated that Putin approved the ], against the democratic presidential nominee ]. A spokesman for Putin denied the reports.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-election-hack-vladimir-putin-personally-involved-us-intelligence-officials-say/</ref>

=== Relations with the United Kingdom ===

In 2003, ] deteriorated when the United Kingdom granted political asylum to Putin's former patron, ] ].<ref name=expul/> This deterioration was intensified by allegations that the British were spying and making secret payments to pro-democracy and human rights groups.<ref name=spy-rock>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16614209|title=UK spied on Russians with fake rock|work=BBC News|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref>

==== Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko ====
{{main article|Assassination of Alexander Litvinenko}}
The end of 2006 brought more strained relations in the wake of the death by ] poisoning of ] in London.<ref name=BBC02Feb12>, BBC News, 12 February 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rt.com/news/litvinenko-secret-files-declassify-019/|title=Litvinenko: MI5, MI6 death files ordered released|work=RT English|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref> In 2007, the crisis in relations continued with expulsion of four Russian ] over Russia's refusal to extradite former KGB bodyguard ] to face charges in the alleged murder of Litvinenko.<ref name=expul>{{cite news|title=Brown Defends Russian Expulsions, Decries Killings|author1=Gonzalo Vina |author2=Sebastian Alison |lastauthoramp=yes |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=ajvS9NfMW2EE&refer=uk|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=20 July 2007}}</ref> Mirroring the British actions, Russia expelled UK diplomats and took other retaliatory steps.<ref name=expul/>

In 2015–16 the British Government conducted an inquiry into the death of ]. Its report was released in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Full Report of the Litvinenko Inquiry|date=21 January 2016|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/21/world/europe/100000004158141.mobile.html?_r=0}}</ref> According to the report, "The FSB operation to kill Mr Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr Patrushev and also by President Putin." The report outlined some possible motives for the murder, including Litvinenko's public statements and ] about ], and what was "undoubtedly a personal dimension to the antagonism" between Putin and Litvinenko, led to the murder. Media analyst William Dunkerley, writing in ''The Guardian'', criticised the inquiry as politically motivated, biased, lacking in evidence, and logically inconsistent.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dunkerley|first1=William|title=Six reasons you can't take the Litvinenko report seriously|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/05/litvinenko-report-get-it-wrong-putin|work=The Guardian|date=5 February 2016}}</ref> The Kremlin dismissed the Inquiry as "a joke" and "whitewash".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Victoria|last2=Rayner|first2=Gordon|last3=Whitehead|first3=Tom|title=Litvinenko Inquiry: David Cameron considers new sanctions against Russia after 'state-sponsored murder' of KGB spy in London|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/12111812/Alexander-Litvinenko-Inquiry-murdered-Russian-spy-live.html|work=Telegraph.co.uk|date=21 January 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.litvinenkoinquiry.org/files/Litvinenko-Inquiry-Report-web-version.pdf|title=The Litvinenko Inquiry. Report into the death of Alexander Litvinenko|author=Robert Owen (Chairman)|date=21 January 2016|isbn=9781474127349}}</ref>

===Relations with Australia and Latin American countries===
{{see also|Australia–Russia relations|Russia–Venezuela relations|Cuba–Russia relations|Brazil–Russia relations}}
Putin and his successor, Medvedev, enjoyed warm relations with the late ] of ]. Much of this has been through the sale of military equipment; since 2005, Venezuela has purchased more than $4 billion worth of arms from Russia.<ref> France 24 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110051027/http://www.france24.com/en/20080925-russia-nuclear-putin-chavez-nuclear-energy |date=10 November 2013 }}</ref> In September 2008, Russia sent ] bombers to Venezuela to carry out training flights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7609577.stm|title=BBC NEWS – World – Americas – Russian bombers land in Venezuela|work=bbc.co.uk|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref> In November 2008, both countries held a joint naval exercise in the ]. Earlier in 2000, Putin had re-established stronger ties with ]'s ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Putin, in Cuba, Signals Priority Of Ties to U.S. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/16/world/putin-in-cuba-signals-priority-of-ties-to-us.html |work=New York Times |first=Patrick |last=Tyler |date=16 December 2000 |accessdate=23 August 2016}}</ref>

] leaders at the ] in ], Australia, 15 November 2014]]
In September 2007, Putin visited ] and in doing so became the first Russian leader to visit the country in more than 50 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brtsis.com/rrubb.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012181540/http://brtsis.com/rrubb.htm|archivedate=12 October 2007|title=Russia Courts Indonesia|publisher=Brtsis.com|date=12 October 2007|accessdate=24 September 2011}}</ref> In the same month, Putin also attended the ] meeting held in Sydney where he met with ], who was the ] at the time, and signed a uranium trade deal for Australia to sell uranium to Russia. This was the first visit by a Russian president to Australia.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Phillip Coorey|title=Putin and Howard Sign Uranium Deal|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/putin-and-howard-sign-uranium-deal/2007/09/07/1188783452227.html|accessdate=14 October 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=7 September 2007}}</ref>

=== Relations with Middle Eastern and North African countries ===
{{see also|Israel-Russia relations}}
On 16 October 2007, Putin visited ] to participate in the Second Caspian Summit in ],<ref name=rbc-iran-tehran>, 16 October 2007, Rbc.ru</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Putin's warning to the U.S.|agency=Reuters|date=16 October 2007|url=http://www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?videoId=68897|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017065727/http://www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?videoId=68897|archivedate=17 October 2007}}</ref> where he met with ] ].<ref>, 16 October 2007, Kremlin.ru</ref><ref>, 15–16 October 2007, Kremlin.ru</ref> This was the first visit of a Soviet or Russian leader<ref>] travelled to shah ]'s Iran in 1963, but at that time he was not yet the ], {{cite news|title=Putin confirms Iran visit, brushes off 'plot' reports|url=http://www.lebanonwire.com/0710MLN/07101516AF.asp|agency=Lebanon Wire|date=15 October 2007}}</ref> to Iran since ]'s participation in the ] in 1943, and thus marked a significant event in ].<ref>, 16 October 2007, ''The Times''.</ref> At a press conference after the summit Putin said that "all our (]) states have the right to develop their peaceful nuclear programmes without any restrictions".<ref>, 16 October 2007, Tehran, Kremlin.ru</ref>

] ], 2014]]
Subsequently, under Medvedev's presidency, ] were uneven: Russia did not fulfill the contract of selling to Iran the ], one of the most potent ] currently existing. However, Russian specialists completed the construction of Iran and the Middle East's first civilian nuclear power facility, the ], and Russia has continuously opposed the imposition of economic sanctions on Iran by the U.S. and the EU, as well as warning against a military attack on Iran. Putin was quoted as describing Iran as a "partner",<ref name=Sturmer/> though he expressed concerns over the ].<ref name=Sturmer/>

In April 2008, Putin became the first Russian President who visited ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/region/libya/putin-s-visit-historic-and-strategic-1.98399 |title=Putin's visit 'historic and strategic' |work=Gulf News |date=18 April 2008 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> Putin condemned the ] of Libya, he called ] as "defective and flawed," and added "It allows everything. It resembles medieval calls for crusades."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/21/putin-libya-intervention-_n_838293.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Cara | last=Parks | title=Putin: Military Intervention In Libya Resembles 'Crusades' | date=21 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rt.com/politics/putin-rasmussen-visit-denmark/ |title=Putin states the West has no legal right to execute Gaddafi – RT |publisher=RT|location=Russia |date=26 April 2011 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> Upon the death of ], Putin called it as "planned murder" by the US, saying: "They showed to the whole world how he (Gaddafi) was killed," and "There was blood all over. Is that what they call a democracy?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/vladimir-putin-blames-us-drones-for-gaddafi-death-slams-john-mccain/ |title=Vladimir Putin Blames US Drones For Gaddafi Death, Slams John McCain |publisher=Mediaite |date=15 December 2011 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Citizen |first=Ottawa |url=http://canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/world/story.html?id=883c4e8f-cd01-4705-b446-fe9c72d3a291 |title=Putin claims U.S. planned murder of Gadhafi |publisher=Canada.com |date=16 December 2011 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

]
Regarding ], from 2000 to 2010 Russia sold around $1.5 billion worth of arms to that country, making ] Moscow's seventh-largest client.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/opinion/why-russia-supports-assad.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss | work=The New York Times | first=Dmitri | last=Trenin | title=Why Russia Supports Assad | date=9 February 2012}}</ref>
During the ], Russia threatened to veto any sanctions against the Syrian government,<ref>{{cite web|author=Fred Weir |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2012/0119/Why-Russia-is-willing-to-sell-arms-to-Syria |title=Why Russia is willing to sell arms to Syria |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=19 January 2012 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> and continued to supply arms to the regime.

Putin opposed any foreign intervention. In June 2012, in Paris, he rejected the statement of French ] ] who called on ] to step down. Putin echoed Assad's argument that anti-regime '’militants'’ were responsible for much of the bloodshed. He also talked about previous NATO interventions and their results, and asked "What is happening in Libya, in Iraq? Did they become safer? Where are they heading? Nobody has an answer".<ref>{{cite web|last=Viscusi|first=Gregory|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-01/hollande-clashes-with-putin-over-ouster-of-syria-s-assad|title=Hollande Clashes With Putin Over Ouster of Syria's Assad|work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek|date=1 June 2012|accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

On 11 September 2013, the '']'' published an ] by Putin urging caution against ] and criticizing ].<ref name="NYT-20130911">{{cite news |last=Putin |first=Vladimir V. |title=A Plea for Caution From Russia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html |date=11 September 2013 |work=] |accessdate=11 September 2013 }}</ref> Putin subsequently helped to arrange for the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Putin-says-US-Russia-agree-on-how-to-destroy-Syrias-chemical-weapons-328134 |title=Putin says US, Russia agree on how to destroy Syria's chemical weapons |newspaper=] |date=8 October 2013}}</ref> In 2015 he took a stronger pro-Assad stance<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkaylan/2015/09/30/putins-syria-gambit-could-be-his-waterloo/|title=Putin's Syria Gambit Could Be His Waterloo|author=Melik Kaylan|work=Forbes}}</ref> and mobilized ]. Some analysts have summarized Putin as being allied with ]s and ]s in the Middle East.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkaylan/2014/11/12/is-putin-about-to-invade-ukraine/|work=Forbes|first=Melik|last=Kaylan|title=Is Putin About To Invade Ukraine?}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Pedler|first1=John|title=A Word Before Leaving: A Former Diplomat's Weltanschauung|date=2015|page=129}}</ref>

===BRICS Summit===

President Putin has attended the ] since 2013.

==Leadership controversy==
Under Putin's leadership, Russia has scored poorly on both the ] and the ].

==International sporting events==
Putin has won international support for ].{{Update inline|reason=Current provisional suspension from IAFF|?=yes|date=January 2016}} In 2007, he led a successful effort on behalf of ] (located along the ] near the border between Georgia and Russia) for the ] and the ],<ref name=kremlin-2014>{{cite web|url=http://media.kremlin.ru/2007_07_04_01_01.wmv|title=Wmf|website=Media.kremlin.ru|date=2007}}</ref> the first ] to ever be hosted by Russia. Likewise, in 2008, the city of ] won the bid for the ], and on 2 December 2010 Russia won the right to host the ] and ], also for the first time in Russian history. In 2013, Putin stated that gay athletes would not face any discrimination at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.<ref>"", BBC (28 October 2013).</ref>

== Public image ==
{{Main article|Public image of Vladimir Putin}}

=== Polls and rankings ===
]

According to a June 2007 public opinion survey, Putin's approval rating was 81%, the second highest of any leader in the world that year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Madslien|first=Jorn|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6265068.stm|title=Russia's economic might: spooky or soothing?|publisher=BBC News|date=4 July 2007|accessdate=2 March 2010}}</ref> In January 2013, Putin's approval rating fell to 62%, the lowest figure since 2000 and a ten-point drop over two years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Arkhipov |first=Ilya |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-24/putin-approval-rating-falls-to-lowest-since-2000-poll.html |title=Putin Approval Rating Falls to Lowest Since 2000: Poll |publisher=Bloomberg |date=24 January 2013 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> By May 2014, following the ], Putin's approval rating had rebounded to 85.9%, a six-year high.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140515/189850984/Putins-Approval-Rating-Reaches-Six-Year-High--Poll.html |title=Putin's Approval Rating Reaches Six-Year High – Poll |work=] |date=15 May 2014}}</ref>

After ] as a result of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine, Putin's approval rating reached 87 percent, according to a ] survey published on 6 August 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.levada.ru/06-08-2014/avgustovskie-reitingi-odobreniya|title=Августовские рейтинги одобрения – Левада-Центр|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-s-approval-rating-soars-to-87-poll-says/504691.html|title=Putin's Approval Rating Soars to 87%, Poll Says |work=The Moscow Times|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref> In February 2015, based on new domestic polling, Putin was ranked the world's most popular politician.<ref>{{cite news|title=The world's most popular politicians: Putin's approval rating hits 86%|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chart-putins-popularity-reaches-86-but-how-does-it-compare-to-other-world-leaders-10075063.html|agency=Independent|date=27 February 2015}}</ref> In June 2015, Putin's approval rating climbed to 89%, an all-time high.<ref name=guardian>{{cite news|title=Vladimir Putin's approval rating at record levels|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/datablog/2015/jul/23/vladimir-putins-approval-rating-at-record-levels|work=The Guardian|date=23 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Июльские рейтинги одобрения и доверия|url=http://www.levada.ru/old/23-07-2015/iyulskie-reitingi-odobreniya-i-doveriya|agency=Levada Centre|date=23 July 2015|language=Russian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Putin's approval ratings hit 89 percent, the highest they’ve ever been|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/06/24/putins-approval-ratings-hit-89-percent-the-highest-theyve-ever-been/|work=Washington Post|date=24 June 2015}}</ref>

Observers see Putin's high approval ratings as a consequence of significant improvements in living standards, and Russia's reassertion of itself on the world scene during his presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oprosy.info/news.php?extend.25 |title=Quarter of Russians Think Living Standards Improved During Putin's Rule |language=ru |publisher=Oprosy.info |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref><ref> by ], 4 December 2007, ''The Times''.</ref>

=== Assessments ===
During his presidential campaign, ] stated that Putin has "been a leader far more than our president has been a leader."<ref>{{cite news|title=Democrats rally around Clinton and paint Trump as unfit for office|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-rally-around-clinton-and-paint-trump-as-unfit-for-office/2016/09/08/c88fd6d2-75dc-11e6-be4f-3f42f2e5a49e_story.html?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.f20119ddad47|agency=Washington Post|date=9 September 2016}}</ref> Trump's running mate ] has also echoed similar remarks stating: "I think it's inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been."<ref>{{cite news|title=Mike Pence says it’s ‘inarguable’ that Putin is a stronger leader than Obama|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/09/08/mike-pence-says-its-inarguable-that-putin-is-a-stronger-leader-than-obama/?utm_term=.4aa7ddd3c2a8|agency=Washington Post|date=8 September 2016}}</ref>

Critics state that Putin has moved Russia in an autocratic direction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/06/vladimir-putin-15-ways-he-changed-russia-world |title=15 Years of Vladimir Putin: 15 Ways He Has Changed Russia and the World |publisher=Guardian |date=6 May 2015}}</ref> Putin has been described as a "dictator" by political opponent ], as a "bully" and "arrogant" by former U.S. Secretary of State ], and as "self-centered" and "isolationist" by the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/putin-russia-obama-kasparov/412804/|title=Garry Kasparov: How the United States and Its Western Allies Propped Up Putin|author=Garry Kasparov|work=The Atlantic|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/live-from-charleston-sc/2016/01/hillary-clinton-vladimir-putin-its-interesting-217926|title=Hillary Clinton Describes Relationship With Putin: 'It's... interesting'|date=17 January 2016|work=Politico|accessdate=14 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hillary Clinton: Putin is Arrogant and Tough |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wJXJWL8XgY |work=YouTube.com |publisher=GPS with Fareed Zakaria |date=27 July 2014 |accessdate=15 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=President Vladimir Putin on Sec. Hillary Clinton |url=http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2016/06/17/exp-gps-putin-on-hillary.cnn |work=CNN Video |publisher=GPS with Mr. Fareed Zakaria |accessdate=15 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/11080133/Dalai-Lama-attacks-self-centred-Vladimir-Putin.html|title=Dalai Lama attacks 'self-centered' Vladimir Putin|date=7 September 2014|work=Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref> Former U.S. Secretary of State ] writes that the West has demonized Putin.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/henry-kissinger-to-settle-the-ukraine-crisis-start-at-the-end/2014/03/05/46dad868-a496-11e3-8466-d34c451760b9_story.html |author=]|title=How The Ukraine Crisis Ends |work=]|date=5 March 2014}}</ref>

Many Russians credit Putin for reviving Russia's fortunes.<ref name=auto>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mikhail-gorbachev-claims-vladimir-putin-saved-russia-falling-apart-1481065 |title=Mikhail Gorbachev claims Vladimir Putin saved Russia from falling apart |publisher=International Business Times |date=27 December 2014}}</ref> Former Soviet Union leader ], while acknowledging the flawed democratic procedures and restrictions on media freedom during the Putin presidency, said that Putin had pulled Russia out of chaos at the end of the ] years, and that Russians "must remember that Putin saved Russia from the beginning of a collapse."<ref name=auto/><ref>{{cite news |first=Doug |last=Struck |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/04/AR2007120402218.html |title=Gorbachev Applauds Putin's Achievements |publisher=The Washington Post |date=5 December 2007}}</ref> In 2015, opposition politician, ], said that Putin was turning Russia into a "raw materials colony" of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/05/decoding-vladimir-putins-plan-for-russia |title=Decoding Vladimir Putin's Plan |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=5 January 2015}}</ref> ] head and Putin supporter, Ramzan Kadyrov, states that Putin saved both the Chechen people and Russia.<ref> p. 278, Brian D. Taylor. Cambridge University Press, 2011.</ref>

In 2014, a detailed study of the alleged corruption of Putin and his inner circle – ''Putin's Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia?'' by ], was published.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Review: 'Putin's Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia?'|url = http://www.internationalpolicydigest.org/2015/04/16/review-putins-kleptocracy-who-owns-russia/|website = International Policy Digest|access-date = 22 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = ‘Putin’s Kleptocracy,’ by Karen Dawisha|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/30/books/review/putins-kleptocracy-by-karen-dawisha.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 25 November 2014|access-date = 22 January 2016|issn = 0362-4331|first = Rajan|last = Menon}}</ref>

In 2015, '']'' Magazine's ] classified Russia as "authoritarian", ranking it 132nd out of 167 countries.<ref name="EIU">{{cite journal | url=http://www.eiu.com | title=Democracy Index 2015 Democracy In an Age of Anxiety | journal=Economist Intelligence Unit | year=2015}}</ref>

=== Personal image ===
{{main article|Public image of Vladimir Putin}}
], 2010 (])]]

Putin cultivates an outdoor, sporty, ] ], demonstrating his physical prowess and taking part in unusual or dangerous acts, such as extreme sports and interaction with wild animals,<ref name=abcnews.go.com>{{cite web|last=Bass |first=Sadie |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2009/08/putin-bolsters-tough-guy-image-with-shirtless-photos/|title=Putin Bolsters Tough Guy Image With Shirtless Photos, Australian Broadcasting Corporation |publisher=ABC News |date=5 August 2009 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref> part of a public relations approach that, according to '']'', "deliberately cultivates the ], take-charge ] image".<ref name=Superputin>{{cite news|last=Rawnsley|first=Adam|title=Pow! Zam! Nyet! 'Superputin' Battles Terrorists, Protesters in Online Comic|url=https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/pow-zam-nyet-superputin-battles-terrorists-protesters-in-online-comic/|accessdate=27 May 2011|newspaper=]|date=26 May 2011}}</ref> For example, in 2007, the tabloid '']'' published a huge photograph of a bare-chested Putin vacationing in the Siberian mountains under the headline: "Be Like Putin."<ref name=putin-shirtless>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/08/22/putin-shirtless.html|title=Putin gone wild: Russia abuzz over pics of shirtless leader.|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=22 August 2007|accessdate=2 March 2010}}</ref> Some of the activities have been criticised for being staged.<ref name=amphorae>, ''The Daily Telegraph''. Retrieved 16 March 2012</ref><ref name="Fishy">{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/07/29/oukoe-uk-russia-putin-fish-idUKBRE96S0CY20130729|title=Russians smell something fishy in Putin's latest stunt|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=12 August 2013|date=29 July 2013}}</ref> Outside of Russia, Putin's macho image has been the subject of parody.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2015|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/09/putin-macho-stunt-fitness-fitspiration-instagam|work=The Guardian|title=Let Putin be your fitness inspiration hero}}</ref>

Notable examples of Putin's adventures include:<ref name=badass> cracked.com</ref> flying military jets, demonstrating martial arts, ], ], and fishing and swimming in a cold Siberian river, all of which he did bare chested.<ref name=putin-shirtless/> Other examples are descending in a deepwater submersible, tranquilizing tigers and polar bears,<ref name=putin-shirtless/><ref> newsru.com</ref><ref> Fox News Channel</ref> riding a motorbike,<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Finland-accidentally-bans-Putin/tabid/417/articleID/293867/Default.aspx|work=3 News NZ |title=Finland Accidentally Bans Putin| date=11 April 2013}}</ref> co-piloting a firefighting plane to dump water on a raging fire,<ref name=Superputin/> shooting darts at whales from a ] for eco-tracking,<ref>{{cite web|date=26 August 2010|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38851148/ns/world_news-europe/|title=Using crossbow, Putin fires darts at whale|publisher=]}}</ref> driving a race car,<ref name=badass/><ref name=rg.ru>{{cite web|url=http://www.rg.ru/2010/11/08/bolid.html |title=Премьер-гонка: Владимир Путин протестировал болид "Формулы-1" |publisher=Rg.ru |date=17 March 2012 |accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> scuba diving at an archaeological site,<ref name=amphorae /><ref name=tetis.ru> tetis.ru</ref> attempting to lead endangered cranes in a motorized ],<ref> ''The Guardian''</ref> and catching large fish.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/07/29/oukoe-uk-russia-putin-fish-idUKBRE96S0CY20130729 | title=Russians smell something fishy in Putin's latest stunt | agency=Reuters | accessdate=12 August 2013 | date=29 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="Fish story">{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-29/putin-s-big-fish-story-leaves-russians-in-doubt.html | title=Putin's Big Fish Story Leaves Russians in Doubt | publisher=Bloomberg | accessdate=12 August 2013}}</ref>

There are a large number of songs about Putin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openspace.ru/music_modern/projects/112/details/593/ |title=Песни про Путина |work=Openspace.ru |date=14 March 2008 |accessdate=7 May 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918192949/http://www.openspace.ru/music_modern/projects/112/details/593 |archivedate=18 September 2009 }}</ref> Some of the well-known include: "Go Hard Like Vladimir Putin" by K. King and Beni Maniaci,<ref>{{cite web | url =http://lifenews.ru/news/134767|script-title=ru:Чернокожие рэперы записали трек в поддержку Владимира Путина|publisher=]| language=Russian|date=10 June 2014| accessdate =7 April 2015}}</ref> "VVP" by ] singer Tolibjon Kurbankhanov,<ref>{{YouTube|RcnQ9imDrWk|ВВП}}</ref><ref> businessinsider.com</ref> "Our Madhouse is Voting for Putin" by Working Faculty and "A Song About Putin" by the ] band.<ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/05/russia-protest-song-veterans_n_1255684.html |title=Russia Protest Song: Veterans Rock Anti-Putin Rally With A Catchy Tune|work=] |accessdate =21 March 2015|date=5 February 2012}}</ref> There is also "]", the song, originally emerged as chants Ukrainian ] and spread in Ukraine (among supporters ]), then in other countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politrussia.com/ukraina/ekskurs-v-istoriyu-odnoy-krichalki-ili-podrobnee-o-tom-chto-znachit-smekh-bez-prichiny-768/|title=Экскурс в историю одной кричалки, или подробнее о том, что значит смех без причины|author=Дарья Зайцева|date=20 June 2014|work=politrussia.com|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref> A song called "]" by Poyushchie vmeste was also a hit across Russia, topping the ] in 2002.<ref name="NatGeoMusic">{{Cite web|url=http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/article/content.article/soundtracks_pbs/en_US|title=PBS Launches New Global Music Series|accessdate=2010-08-19|date=December 7, 2009|author=National Geographic Music News|work=National Geographic Society}}</ref>

Putin's name and image are widely used in advertisement and product branding.<ref name=Superputin/> Among the Putin-branded products are ] vodka, the ] brand of canned food, the ''Gorbusha Putina'' ] and a collection of T-shirts with his image.<ref> ] 30 November 2007.</ref>

Putin also is a subject of ] and ], such as " There Was No Orgasm" featured in the 2007 comedy film '']''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sergeysv.net/songs/?id=ne-bylo-orgazma |title=Частушки (Не было оргазма) |publisher=Sergeysv.net |accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> In 2015, his advisor was found dead after days of excessive consumption of alcohol, though this was later ruled an accident.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vladimir-putin-adviser-death-washington-hotel-ruled-accident/|title=Vladimir Putin's advisor found dead |access-date=28 October 2016}}</ref>

=== Putinisms ===
{{main|Putinisms}}
{{wikiquote|Vladimir Putin}}
Putin has produced a large number of aphorisms and catch-phrases known as '']''.<ref name=putinisms>{{cite|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/russia/newsid_3535000/3535811.stm|trans-title=Putinism - "Thoughtful personal outrageous"?|script-title=ru:Путинизмы – "продуманный личный эпатаж"?|newspaper=BBC Russian|language=ru|first=Cyril|last=Sukhotsky|date=5 March 2004|accessdate=29 January 2017}}</ref> Many of them were first made during his annual Q&A conferences, where Putin answered questions from journalists and other people in the studio, as well as from Russians throughout the country, who either phoned in or spoke from studios and outdoor sites across Russia. Putin is known for his often tough and sharp language, often alluding at ] and folk sayings.<ref name=putinisms/>

Putin sometimes uses Russian criminal jargon (]), not always correctly.<ref>{{cite|url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/opinion/articles/2012/12/25/citata_nedeli|script-title=ru:Кирилл Харатьян: Жаргон Владимира Путина|work=''{{lang|ru|Ведомости}} (''{{transl|ru|Vedomosti.ru}}'')''|language=ru|first=Kirill|last=Kharatyan|trans-title=Vladimir Putin's Jargon|date=25 December 2012|accessdate=29 January 2017}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

=== Family ===
{{see also|Lyudmila Putina}}
], ], 2002]]
] at their wedding, 28 July 1983]]
[[File:Vladimir and Lyudmila Putin visiting the Taj Mahal.jpg|right|thumb|Vladimir and Lyudmila Putin visiting the Taj Mahal, Agra, India, October 2000<ref name=taj>{{cite web
|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/553e09952889d334c2ccaf81d5223109
|title=Russian President Vladimir Putin Visits Taj Mahal, Agra, India
|date=4 October 2000 |publisher=''The Associated Press, USA'' |website=The Associated Press - Video Archives|accessdate=22 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/39498 |title=Russian President Vladimir Putin Visits Taj Mahal, Agra, India |date=4 October 2000 |publisher=''The Kremlin, Moscow, Russia'' |accessdate=22 March 2017}}</ref>]]

On 28 July 1983, Putin married ], and they lived together in Germany from 1985 to 1990. They have two daughters, Mariya Putina, born 28 April 1985 in Leningrad, Russia, and ], born 31 August 1986 in ], ].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sakwa|first1=Richard|title=''Putin: Russia's Choice''|date=2007 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=1134133456 |edition=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pr59AgAAQBAJ}}</ref>

On 6 June 2013, Putin announced that their marriage was over, and on 1 April 2014, the Kremlin confirmed that the divorce had been finalized.<ref>{{cite news|title=Russia President Vladimir Putin's Divorce Finalized|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26850204|accessdate=2 April 2014|publisher=BBC News|date=2 April 2014 |archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20140402191158/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26850204|archivedate=2 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/04/02/vladimir-putin-divorce/7210689/|work=USA Today|first1=Cooper|last1=Allen|title=Putin Divorce Finalized, Kremlin says |date=2 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3416080/Putin-s-ex-wife-marries-toyboy-21-years-junior-Russian-president-woos-younger-gymnast.html |title=Putin's Ex-Wife Marries Toyboy 21 Years Her Junior |date=26 January 2016 |website=DailyMail.co.uk |publisher=''Daily Mail, UK'' |first1=Will |last1=Stewart |accessdate=22 March 2017}}</ref>

===Personal wealth===

{{see also|Panama Papers}}

Figures released during the ] put Putin's wealth at approximately 3.7 million ] (US$150,000) in bank accounts, a private {{convert|77.4|m2|adj=on|sqft|sp=us}} apartment in Saint Petersburg, and miscellaneous other assets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quote.ru/fterm/emitent.shtml?49/1249|title=Quote.Rbc.Ru :: Аюмй Яюмйр-Оерепаспц&nbsp;— Юйжхх, Ярпсйрспю, Мнбнярх, Тхмюмяш|publisher=Quote.ru|accessdate=2 March 2010}}</ref> Putin's reported 2006 income totalled 2 million rubles (approximately $80,000). In 2012, Putin reported an income of 3.6 million rubles ($113,000).<ref> ] N 4504 27 October 2007</ref><ref> ] 26 October 2007</ref>

According to Russian opposition politicians and journalists, Putin secretly possesses a multi-billion fortune<ref name=Is>{{cite news|title=Is Vladimir Putin the richest man on earth?|url=http://www.news.com.au/money/money-matters/is-vladimir-putin-the-richest-man-on-earth/story-e6frfmd9-1226727457378|newspaper=]|date=26 September 2013}}</ref> via successive ownership of stakes in a number of Russian companies.<ref> ''Sobesednik'' № 10, 7 March 2007</ref><ref name=Guardian_40bn>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/dec/21/russia.topstories3|title=Putin, the Kremlin power struggle and the $40bn fortune|work=The Guardian|date=21 December 2007|last=Harding|first=Luke|accessdate=18 August 2008|location=London}}</ref> However, according to the ], "Estimates of Putin's wealth lack even the smallest thread of evidence."<ref>{{cite web|title=Is Vladimir Putin hiding a $200 billion fortune? (And if so, does it matter?)|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/02/20/is-vladimir-putin-hiding-a-200-billion-fortune-and-if-so-does-it-matter/?utm_term=.ffe978061e90|website=The Washington Post|accessdate=19 March 2017}}</ref>

In April 2016, 11 million documents belonging to a Panamanian law firm ] were ] to the German newspaper '']'' and the ]-based ]. The name of Vladimir Putin does not appear in any of the records, and Putin denied his involvement with the company.<ref name="echo-panama">{{cite news|url=http://echo.msk.ru/news/1743934-echo.html|title=Прямая линия с Владимиром Путиным состоится 14 апреля в 12 часов|date=8 April 2016|publisher=Echo of Moscow|language=Russian|accessdate=8 April 2016}}</ref> However, various media has reported on three of Putin's associates on the list.<ref name=hardingrevealed>{{cite news|title=Revealed: the $2bn offshore trail that leads to Vladimir Putin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/03/panama-papers-money-hidden-offshore |newspaper=] |location=London |date=3 April 2016 |author=Luke Harding}}</ref> According to the ] leak, close trustees of Putin own offshore companies worth two billion US-Dollar in total.<ref>, Süddeutsche Zeitung</ref> The German newspaper '']'' regards the possibility of Putin's family profiting from this money as plausible.<ref>, Süddeutsche Zeitung</ref><ref>, The Guardian</ref>

According to the paper, the US$2 billion had been "secretly shuffled through banks and shadow companies linked to Putin's associates", and ], previously identified by the U.S. State Department as being treated by Putin as his personal bank account, had been central in facilitating this. It concludes that "Putin has shown he is willing to take aggressive steps to maintain secrecy and protect communal assets."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://panamapapers.icij.org/20160403-putin-russia-offshore-network.html|title=All Putin’s Men: Secret Records Reveal Money Network Tied to Russian Leader|website=panamapapers.icij.org|access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35918845|title=Panama Papers: Putin associates linked to 'money laundering' – BBC News|website=BBC News|language=English|access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref> A significant proportion of the money trail leads to Putin's best friend Sergei Roldugin. Although a musician, and in his own words not a businessman, it appears he has accumulated assets valued at $100m, and possibly more. It has been suggested he was picked for the role because of his low profile.<ref name="hardingrevealed" /> There have been speculations that Putin in fact owns the funds,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vox.com/2016/4/4/11360212/panama-papers-russia-putin|title=The Panama Papers show how corruption really works in Russia|last=Galeotti|first=Mark|date=4 April 2016|publisher=Vox Business and Finance|accessdate=8 April 2016}}</ref> and Roldugin just acted as a proxy. Putin himself denied it,<ref name="echo-panama" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35989560|title=Panama Papers: Putin rejects corruption allegations|date=7 April 2016|publisher=BBC|accessdate=8 April 2016}}</ref> and his press-secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said the leak was a conspiracy aimed at Putin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/04/kremlin-reaction-putin-dmitry-peskov-panama-papers-putinphobia|title=Kremlin dismisses revelations in Panama Papers as 'Putinphobia'|last=Harding|first=Luke|date=4 April 2016|newspaper=]|accessdate=8 April 2016}}</ref>

=== Residences ===

====Official government residences====
As President and Prime-Minister, Putin has lived in numerous official residences throughout the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/leaders-not-swapping-residences-13069 |title=Russian Leaders Not Swapping Residences |date=5 March 2012 |first1=Olga |last1=Solovyova |publisher=''The Moscow Times, Russia'' |accessdate=22 March 2017}}</ref> These residences include: the ], ] in ], the ], ] near Moscow, ] in ], ] in ], and Riviera in Sochi.<ref name=residences>{{cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1576415/print?stamp=634719994045719457 |title=Тайна за семью заборами |publisher=Kommersant.ru |accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

In August 2012, critics of President Vladimir Putin listed the ownership of 20 villas and palaces, nine of which were built during Putin's 12 years in power.<ref name="Slave">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/28/vladimir-putin-palaces-planes-toilet | title=Vladimir Putin 'Galley Slave' Lifestyle: Palaces, Planes and a $75,000 Toilet | work=The Guardian, UK | accessdate=28 August 2012 | location=London, UK | first=Miriam | last=Elder | date=28 August 2012}}</ref>

====Personal residences====
Soon after Putin returned from his KGB service in Dresden, East Germany, he built a ] in Solovyovka on the eastern shore of Lake Komsomolskoye on the ] in ] of ], near St. Petersburg. The dacha had burned down in 1996. Putin built a new one identical to the original, and was joined by a group of seven friends who built dachas nearby. In 1996, the group formally registered their fraternity as a ] society, calling it ] ("Lake") and turning it into a ].<ref> By Fiona Hill & Clifford G. Gaddy, ''The Atlantic'', 14 February 2013</ref>

A massive Italianate-style mansion costing an alleged US$1 billion<ref name="'Putin palace' sold">{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8359527/Putin-palace-sells-for-350-million.html | title='Putin Palace' Sells for US$350 Million | work=The Daily Telegraph, UK | date=3 March 2011 |accessdate=5 May 2012 | location=London, UK | first=Our | last=Foreign}}</ref> and dubbed "]" is under construction near the Black Sea village of Praskoveevka. The mansion, built on government land and sporting 3 helipads, a private road paid for from state funds and guarded by officials wearing uniforms of the official Kremlin guard service, is said to have been built for Putin's private use.{{by whom|date=April 2016}} In 2012 ], a former business associate of Putin's, told the BBC's '']'' programme that he had been ordered by Deputy Prime Minister ] to oversee the building of the palace.<ref name="Putin's palace">{{cite news | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17730959 | title=Putin's Palace? A Mystery Black Sea Mansion Fit for a Tsar | publisher=''BBC, UK'' | date=4 May 2012 |accessdate=4 May 2012}}</ref>

=== Pets ===
{{main article|Pets of Vladimir Putin}}
Putin has two dogs, Buffy and Yume. Buffy, a ], was given to President Putin in November 2010 by the Bulgarian Prime Minister, ]. Yume is an ] dog who arrived in Moscow in July 2012 as a three-month old puppy as the ]’s gift to show gratitude for Russia’s assistance to Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2001.

=== Religion ===
], 16 November 2001]]
Putin's mother was a devoted Christian believer who attended the ], and his father was an ].<ref>{{cite web|title=
Vladimir Putin's Christian Faith – In His Own Words|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3d_yxJhmjk|publisher=YouTube.com|date=18 May 2012|accessdate=23 June 2016}}</ref><ref name=Colton>{{cite book|title=Popular Choice and Managed Democracy: the Russian elections of 1999 and 2000|author1=Timothy J. Colton |author2=Michael MacFaul |year=2003|publisher=The Brookings Institution|location=Washington DC}}</ref> Though his mother kept no ]s at home, she attended church regularly, despite government persecution of her religion at that time. His mother secretly baptized him as a baby, and she regularly took him to services.<ref name=sakwa_p3/>

According to Putin, his religious awakening began after a serious car crash involving his wife in 1993, and a life-threatening fire that burned down their ] in August 1996.<ref name=Colton/> Shortly before an official visit to ], Putin's mother gave him his baptismal cross, telling him to get it blessed. Putin states, "I did as she said and then put the cross around my neck. I have never taken it off since."<ref name=sakwa_p3/> When asked in 2007 whether he believes in God, he responded, "... There are things I believe, which should not in my position, at least, be shared with the public at large for everybody's consumption because that would look like self-advertising or a political striptease."<ref> '']''. Retrieved 22 March 2008</ref> Putin's rumoured ] is Russian Orthodox ] ].<ref name=FT>{{cite news|title=Putin and the monk|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/f2fcba3e-65be-11e2-a3db-00144feab49a.html|agency=]|date=25 January 2013}}</ref>

=== Sports ===
] in Guatemala, 2007, in English. He also speaks German<ref>{{cite web|last=Wagner|first=Hans|url=http://www.eurasischesmagazin.de/artikel/?artikelID=20060504|title=Das Konfliktpotential mit den USA wächst (German)|date=30 June 2006|accessdate=29 March 2007}}</ref> and Swedish.<ref>, The Moscow Times, 2 October 2013.</ref>]]
Putin is frequently seen promoting sports and a healthy way of life among Russians, including promoting skiing, badminton, cycling, and fishing.<ref name=top.rbc.ru>{{cite web|url=http://top.rbc.ru/society/24/10/2011/621675.shtml |script-title=ru:Д.Медведев призвал россиян активнее играть в бадминтон |language=ru |publisher=Top.rbc.ru |accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref>

Putin watches ], and supports ], from his home city.<ref name="Putin to talk pipeline, attend football game">{{cite web|title=Putin to talk pipeline, attend football game|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=03&dd=22&nav_id=73361|work=B92|accessdate=22 March 2011}}</ref>

Putin began training in ] at the age of 14, before switching to ], which he continues to practice.<ref> US radio station ] New York (15 November 2001)</ref> Putin won competitions in both sports in ]. Putin also practises ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaikoforum.com/30-Yamashita.pdf|title=Account Suspended|publisher=|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref>

Putin co-authored a book on his favorite sport, published in Russian as ''Judo with Vladimir Putin'', and in English under the title ''Judo: History, Theory, Practice (2004).''<ref name=putin-judo>{{cite book|last=Putin|first=Vladimir|author2=Vasily Shestakov |author3=Alexey Levitsky |date=July 2004|title=Judo: History, Theory, Practice|publisher=]|isbn=1-55643-445-6}}</ref>

== Honours ==
<!-- ] -->

=== Civilian awards presented by different countries ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date
!Country
!Award
!Presenter
!Notes
|-
|2014
|]
|] <ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.escambray.cu/2014/raul-castro-welcomes-russian-president-vladimir-putin/|title=Raul Castro Welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin|date=11 July 2014|agency=Escambray}}</ref>
|
|Cuba's highest decoration
|-
|2013
|]
|] <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society.php?yyyy=2014&mm=10&dd=16&nav_id=91926|title=Putin receives Serbia's top state decoration|date=16 October 2014|agency=B92}}</ref>
|
|Serbia's highest award
|-
|2013
|]
|] <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.legimonaco.mc/Dataweb/jourmon.nsf/9bf97b0da6308cfdc12568c40037f873/5b93238ce0e6ee84c1257c01002ec12d!OpenDocument|title=Ordonnance Souveraine n° 4.504 du 4 octobre 2013 portant élévation dans l’Ordre de Saint-Charles|date=4 October 2013|agency=Journal de Monaco|language=French}}</ref>
|
|Monaco's highest decoration
|-
|2011
|]
|] <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/russia-offers-venezuela-nuclear-help-chavez-says/|title=Russia offers Venezuela nuclear help, Chavez says|date=2 April 2010|agency=The Seattle Times|last1=Sanchez|first1=Fabiola}}</ref>
|
|Venezuela's highest distinction
|-
|10 September 2007
|]
|] <ref>, Rbc.ru, 10 September 2007</ref>
|President ] awarded Putin the ]
|UAE's highest civil decoration
|-
|12 February 2007
|]
|] <ref>Atul Aneja . ''The Hindu''. 20 February 2007</ref>
|] ] awarded Putin the ]
|Saudi Arabia's highest civilian award
|-
|2007
|]
|] <ref>{{cite journal|date=2007|title=CSTO: SAFE CHOICE IN CENTRAL ASIA|journal=Eurasia Daily Monitor|volume=4|issue=191}}</ref>
|
|Tajikistan's highest distinction
|-
|2006
|
|Order of ]
|Putin was awarded the Order of ] for his role in interfaith dialogue between Muslims and Christians in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qafqazislam.com/rus/seyxulislam_ordeni.php|title=Орден Шейх-уль-ислама|publisher=Управление Мусульман Кавказа|language=Russian}}</ref>
|The highest Muslim Order <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1673|title=Alexy II is awarded the highest Muslim Order|date=4 July 2006|agency=Interfax-Religion}}</ref>
|-
|September 2006
|]
|] <ref>{{fr icon}} </ref>
|France's president ] awarded Putin the ''Grand-Croix'' (Grand Cross) of the ] to celebrate his contribution to the friendship between the two countries
|Highest French decoration
|-
|2004
|]
|] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://e-history.kz/media/upload/55/2013/09/27/d64779d7e21d13b914528c976d5bfd20.pdf|title=Первый Президент Республики Казахстан Нурсултан Назарбаев Хроника деятельности 2004 год|date=2009|location=Astana|page=15|language=ru|doi=|quote=Президент также подписал указы «О награждении орденом «Алтын ыран» (Золотой орел) Путина В.В.»...|ISBN=978-601-80044-3-8}}</ref>
|
|Kazakhstan's highest distinction
|-
|2001
|]
|] <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aif.ru/archive/1623363|title=Вьетнам: Наш президент круче американского. Путину – орден Хо Ши Мина. Нас там пока любят|date=7 March 2001|agency=Аргументы и Факты|language=Russian}}</ref>
|
|Vietnam's second highest distinction
|}

=== Honorary doctorates ===

{| class="wikitable"
!Date
!University/ Institute
|-
|2011
|] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society.php?yyyy=2011&mm=03&dd=16&nav_id=73273|title=B92 News: Belgrade University to award Putin honorary doctorate|accessdate=11 June 2012}}</ref>
|-
|2001
|] <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hri.org/news/greek/apeen/2001/01-12-07_1.apeen.html|title=Putin receives honorary doctorate from Athens University|date=7 December 2001|agency=Athens News Agency}}</ref>
|-
|2001
|] <ref>{{cite news|url=http://asbarez.com/45463/putin-concludes-visit-to-armenia-lays-wreath-at-genocide-monument/|title=Putin Concludes Visit to Armenia Lays Wreath at Genocide Monument|date=17 September 2001|agency=Asbarez}}</ref>
|}

=== Other awards ===

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Award
!Notes
|-
|2015
|Angel of Peace Medal
|] presented Putin with the Angel of Peace Medal,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.religionnews.com/2015/06/10/putin-arrives-at-vatican-pope-urged-to-take-hard-line-on-ukraine-conflict/|title=Pope Francis meets Putin for a diplomatically difficult talk|date=10 June 2015|agency=Religion News Service}}</ref> which is a customary gift to presidents visiting the Vatican.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-palestinians-idUSKBN0O41ZP20150519|title=Vatican says Pope meant no offense calling Abbas 'angel of peace'|date=19 May 2015|author=Reuters Editorial|work=Reuters|accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
|15 November 2011
|]
|The ] International Peace Research Centre awarded the ] to Putin, citing as reason Putin's opposition to ] in 2011 while also paying tribute to his decision to go to war in ].<ref name="bbc2011">{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-15750979|title=Vladimir Putin in China Confucius Peace Prize fiasco|date=15 November 2011|publisher=BBC|accessdate=15 November 2011}}</ref> According to the committee, Putin's "Iron hand and toughness revealed in this war impressed the Russians a lot, and he was regarded to be capable of bringing safety and stability to Russia".<ref name="Confucious">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/world/asia/chinas-confucius-prize-awarded-to-vladimir-putin.html?hp|title=In China, Confucius Prize Awarded to Putin|last=Wong|first=Edward|date=15 November 2011|work=The New York Times|accessdate=15 November 2011}}</ref>
|}

=== Recognition ===

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Award/Recognition
!Description
|-
|February 2011
|]
|The parliament of ] named a peak in ] mountains ].<ref>. Lenta.ru. 17 February 2011</ref>
|-
|5 October 2008
|]
|The central street of ], the capital of Russia's ], was renamed from the Victory Avenue to the ], as ordered by the ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2008/10/05/street/|title=В Грозном появился проспект имени Путина|work=lenta.ru|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref>
|-
|December 2007
|]: ]
|A Russian ]-oriented weekly magazine named Putin as its ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://expert.ru/expert/2007/48/chelovek_goda/|title=Глобальный игрок. ''Expert'' magazine. № 48 (589) 24 December 2007|publisher=Expert.ru|accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>
|-
|2007
|] ]
|"His final year as Russia's President has been his most successful yet. At home, he secured his political future. Abroad, he expanded his outsize—if not always benign—influence on global affairs."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1690753,00.html|title=Person of the Year 2007|work=Time|year=2007|author=|accessdate=8 July 2009}}</ref>
|}

==Ancestry==
{{ahnentafel top|width=100%}}
{{ahnentafel-compact5
|style=font-size: 90%; line-height: 110%;
|align=center
|border=1
|boxstyle=padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;
|1=1. '''Vladimir Putin'''
|2=2. Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin
|3=3. Maria Ivanova Shelomova
|4=4. Spiridon Ivanovich Putin
|5=5. Olga Ivanovna Chursanova
|6=6. Ivan Andreevich Shelomov
|7=7. Elizaveta Alekseevna Buyanova
|8=8. Ivan Petrovich Putin
|9=9. Praskovia Matveevna Golubeva
|10=10. Ivan Ivanovich Chursanov
|11=11. Yulia Timofeyevna Fomina
|12=12. Andrey Alekseyevich Shelomov
|13=13. Anastasiya Mikhaylovna Shelomova
|14=14. Aleksey Aleksandrovich Buyanov
|15=15. Ulyana Petrovna Kamachkina
|16=16. Pyotr Prokhorovich Putin
|17=17. Matrena Yakovlevna
|18=18. Matvey Anisimovich Golubev
|19=19. Ulyana Yevdokimovna
|20=20. Ivan Artemyevich Chursanov
|21=21. Anastasiya Yevgrafovna Kulakova
|22=22. Timofey Yefimovich Fomin
|23=23. Marina Yefimovna Seropegova
|24=24. Aleksey Nikiforovich Skovorodnikov
|25=25. Domna Stepanovna
|26=26. Mikhail Fedorovich Shelomov
|27=27. Anisya Petrovna
|28=28. Aleksandr Ivanovich Buyanov
|29=29. Anastasiya Piminovna
|30=30. Petr Timofeyevich Kamachkin
|31=31. Fedosya Andreyevna
}}
{{ahnentafel bottom}}


== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}} {{Reflist|30em}}


Revision as of 02:13, 26 March 2017

"Putin" redirects here. For other uses, see Putin (surname).

Template:Eastern Slavic name

Vladimir Putin
Владимир Путин
2nd and 4th President of Russia
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 May 2012
Prime MinisterViktor Zubkov
Dmitry Medvedev
Preceded byDmitry Medvedev
In office
7 May 2000 – 7 May 2008
Acting: 31 December 1999 – 7 May 2000
Prime MinisterMikhail Kasyanov
Mikhail Fradkov
Viktor Zubkov
Preceded byBoris Yeltsin
Succeeded byDmitry Medvedev
Prime Minister of Russia
In office
8 May 2008 – 7 May 2012
PresidentDmitry Medvedev
First DeputySergei Ivanov
Viktor Zubkov
Igor Shuvalov
Preceded byViktor Zubkov
Succeeded byDmitry Medvedev
In office
16 August 1999 – 7 May 2000
Acting: 9 August 1999 – 16 August 1999
PresidentBoris Yeltsin
First DeputyNikolai Aksyonenko
Viktor Khristenko
Mikhail Kasyanov
Preceded bySergei Stepashin
Succeeded byMikhail Kasyanov
Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union State
In office
27 May 2008 – 18 July 2012
Preceded byViktor Zubkov
Succeeded byDmitry Medvedev
Leader of United Russia
In office
7 May 2008 – 26 May 2012
Preceded byBoris Gryzlov
Succeeded byDmitry Medvedev
Secretary of the Security Council
In office
9 March 1999 – 9 August 1999
PresidentBoris Yeltsin
Preceded byNikolay Bordyuzha
Succeeded bySergei Ivanov
Director of the Federal Security Service
In office
25 July 1998 – 29 March 1999
PresidentBoris Yeltsin
Preceded byNikolay Kovalyov
Succeeded byNikolai Patrushev
Personal details
BornVladimir Vladimirovich Putin
(1952-10-07) 7 October 1952 (age 72)
Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Political partyCommunist Party of the Soviet Union (1975–91)
Our Home-Russia (1995–99)
Unity (1999–2001)
Independent (1991–95; 2001–08)
United Russia (2008–present)
Other political
affiliations		People's Front (2011–present)
SpouseDonald Trump
ChildrenMariya Putina Katerina Tikhonova
Residence(s)Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow, Russia
Alma materSaint Petersburg State University
Awards=Order of Honor of the Russian Federation Order of Honour
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union
Branch/serviceKGB
Years of service1975–1991
Rank Lieutenant colonel

Vlad likes Putin it in the butt.

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