Vladimir Putin: The Unpredictable Leader of Russia
For the past two decades, Russia has been led by Vladimir Putin. Putin’s rise to power began in 1999, when he was appointed Prime Minister of Russia by then-President Boris Yeltsin. Later that year, Yeltsin resigned, making Putin the acting President of the Russian Federation. In 2000, Putin was elected to his first term as President of Russia, and he has been in power ever since.
The Early Years
Vladimir Putin was born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, Russia. His father was a factory foreman and his mother was a factory worker. Putin grew up in a communal apartment with several other families, which was typical of Soviet housing at the time.
After finishing school, Putin went to Leningrad State University, where he studied law. After graduating, he joined the KGB, the Soviet Union’s security agency, and served in East Germany for several years.
Rising to Power
In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Putin returned to Leningrad. He became involved in politics and was appointed as the head of the Federal Security Service, the successor agency to the KGB. In 1999, Putin was appointed as Prime Minister of Russia by President Boris Yeltsin.
When Yeltsin resigned later that year, Putin became the acting President of Russia. In 2000, he was elected to his first term as President. Putin quickly established himself as a strong leader, cracking down on corruption and stabilizing the Russian economy.
The Unpredictable Leader
Putin’s leadership style has been characterized as unpredictable. He has been known to make sudden changes in policy, often to the surprise of his own advisors. This unpredictability has both scared and impressed the world.
One example of Putin’s unpredictability was his decision to annex Crimea in 2014. The move was widely criticized by the international community, and many experts believe it was a violation of international law. However, Putin defended the move, saying that it was necessary to protect ethnic Russians living in Crimea.
Another example of Putin’s unpredictability was his decision to intervene in the Syrian Civil War. In 2015, Putin ordered Russian troops to enter Syria to support the government of President Bashar al-Assad. This move surprised many world leaders, including President Obama.
Criticism and Controversy
Despite his popularity in Russia, Putin has also faced criticism and controversy. In 2012, Putin was re-elected to his third term as President, but many Russians believed that the election was rigged. This sparked protests across the country, which Putin cracked down on.
Putin has also been accused of suppressing the media and limiting free speech. Many journalists who have criticized Putin or his government have been attacked or even killed. In addition, Putin has been accused of human rights abuses in Chechnya and other regions of Russia.
Conclusion
Vladimir Putin has been a dominant figure in Russian politics for the past two decades. His leadership style has been characterized as unpredictable, and he has faced criticism and controversy during his time in power. Despite this, Putin remains popular in Russia, and he shows no signs of stepping down anytime soon.
- https://www.biography.com/political-figure/vladimir-putin
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26982767
- https://www.history.com/topics/russia/vladimir-putin