Who Is Vladimir Putin?

In 1999, Russian president Boris Yeltsin promoted former KGB officer Vladimir Putin to Russian prime minister. Later that year, Yeltsin resigned and appointed Putin president. Putin was re-elected in 2004. Putin could not run for the presidency again in 2008. Instead, he was appointed prime minister by the new president. Putin was re-elected to the presidency in March 2012 and later won a fourth term.

President of Russia: First and Second Terms

In 2000, Putin was elected to his first term. Putin restructured the government, promising political and economic reforms. He investigated the business dealings of high-profile Russian citizens. He also continued Russia's military campaign in Chechnya.

In September 2001, in response to the terrorist attacks on the United States, Putin announced Russia's support for the United States in its anti-terror campaign. However, Putin joined Germany and France in opposing the U.S. plan to get rid of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

In 2004, Putin made a historic visit to Israel. This was the first visit to Israel by any Kremlin leader.

Third Term as President

After widespread protests and allegations of electoral fraud, Putin appointed Medvedev as prime minister. Putin has continued to make controversial changes to Russia's domestic affairs and foreign policy.

Putin signed into a law a ban on the U.S. adoption of Russian children. He also made it illegal for gay couples to adopt children in Russia.

He granted asylum to Edward Snowden, who is wanted by the United States for leaking classified information from the National Security Agency.

Chemical Weapons in Syria

In September 2013, tensions rose between the United States and Syria over Syria's possession of chemical weapons,. The U.S. threatened military action if the weapons were not relinquished. Putin attacked the U.S. position for taking action against Syria. He stated that a unilateral move could result in the escalation of violence and unrest in the Middle East.

2014 Winter Olympics

In 2014, Russia hosted the Winter Olympics. The threat of international boycotts of the Olympics arose in response to Putin’s anti-gay legislation. Putin claimed that Russia did everything possible to make sure that athletes, fans and guests felt comfortable at the Olympic Games.

Putin also cracked down on Muslim extremists as a security measure before the Olympics.

Invasion into Crimea

Also in 2014 Winter Olympics, Putin sent Russian troops into Crimea, a peninsula in the country's northeast coast of the Black Sea. The peninsula had been part of Russia until Nikita Khrushchev, former Premier of the Soviet Union, gave it to Ukraine in 1954.

Russia's actions caught the attention of other nations, who refused to accept the legitimacy of a referendum in which the majority of the Crimean population voted to secede from Ukraine and reunite with Russia.

Putin insisted that the troops sent into Ukraine were there to enhance Russia's military defenses within the country. He a denied accusations that Russia intended to start a war with Ukraine.

Source: Vladimir Putin
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