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Vladimir Putin

2022-05-22T03:58:40Z

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{{Officeholder
|name=Vladimir Putin
|image=Vladimir Putin (2017-07-08).jpg
|party=[[United Russia]]
|offices=|offices={{Officeholder/president
|country=Russia
|number=2nd and 4th
|terms=December 31, 1999 – May 7, 2008 (first) May 7, 2012 – (second)
|vp=[[Dmitry Medvedev]]
|preceded=[[Boris Yeltsin]] (First term), Dmitry Medvedev (Second term)
|succeeded
}}
|religion=[[Russian Orthodox]]
}}
'''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Владимир Владимирович Путин) (born October 7, 1952) is the socially [[conservative]] president of the [[Russian Federation]], a position he's held since 2012, after serving as prime minister since May 8, 2008, and previously serving as [[president]] since December 31, 1999<ref>[[Boris Yeltsin]] resigned from the presidency on that day, and Putin was later elected president by 54% of the electorate on March 26, 2000.</ref> Vladimir Putin's decision in February 2022 to commit an incursion into the [[Ukraine]] was based upon the [[Bush Doctrine]] of preventative war and the UN sanctioned doctrine of R2P (responsibility to protect), as articulated by [[Samantha Power]] during the 2011 [[Libyan war]], to protect civilians in the [[Donbas]] region who had endured eight years of atrocities by the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup|Maidan regime]] and which was preparing a large full scale military action against Russian-speaking people.

Despite Western [[propaganda]] and calls for an uprising to overthrow Vladimir Putin, more than 1 million people turned out in the streets of [[Moscow]] for the 2022 [[Victory Day]] celebrations of the Immortal Regiment for which Vladimir Putin was the featured honored speaker.<ref>https://videopress.com/v/KnJnf4eu</ref>

Putin had increased Russia's stature in international affairs despite its weak economic position.<ref>Seib, Gerald F. (May 6, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-punches-above-his-weight-11557150000 Putin Punches Above His Weight]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved May 7, 2019.</ref> As a result of the economic sanctions leveled against Putin, he was booted out of the [[World Economic Forum]].<ref>https://twitter.com/teddyfenton1/status/1498792512772784128|</ref> As of March 2022 however, Putin still maintained a [[Twitter]] account.<ref>https://thefederalist.com/2022/03/04/after-banning-trump-for-denouncing-violence-twitter-lets-putin-keep-his-account/</ref>

A baptized Russian Orthodox [[Christian]] who quotes the [[Bible]],<ref>https://www.libertynation.com/why-vladimir-putin-quotes-the-bible/ (analyzing with skepticism Putin's quote of [[Scriptures]]).</ref> Putin leads the increasingly [[conservative]] Russia against the [[homosexual agenda]], [[transgenderism]], and towards the [[pro-life]] side. [[Abortion]] and other [[leftist]] values had virtually wiped out natural population growth in [[Soviet]] times, and left an indelible scar on [[culture]]. Liberals criticize Putin and [[Russia]] because they disagree with him on social issues. [[Obama]] even refused to attend the Winter Olympic games held in Russia in 2014. Putin has also criticized liberal values as "against nature" and out of touch with a more traditional population.<ref>Multiple references:
*Isachenkov, Vladimir (June 29, 2019). [https://www.apnews.com/401b6cfd5b9c4a619851196410bc5814 Putin says liberalism ‘eating itself,’ migrant influx wrong]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*Calicchio, Dom (June 28, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/world/putin-liberal-values-obsolete-people-in-west-prefer-traditional-values Putin: Liberal values ‘obsolete,’ people in West prefer ‘traditional’ values]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*[https://in.reuters.com/article/russia-putin-europe-values/russias-putin-says-liberal-values-are-obsolete-idINKCN1TS2VB Russia's Putin says liberal values are obsolete - FT]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48795764 Putin: Russian president says liberalism 'obsolete']. ''BBC News''. June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*[https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-tells-ft-the-liberal-idea-has-become-obsolete-/30026237.html Putin Tells FT: 'The Liberal Idea Has Become Obsolete']. ''Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.</ref>

Putin may privately seek to issue a new era of [[Orthodox Christian|Orthodox]] [[Christendom]] with [[Moscow]] as the Third Rome. Under this view, Moscow would succeed [[Constantinople]] as the center of Orthodoxy after nearly 1700 years.

Putin has many controversial statements on [[Communism]] and has a good attitude toward the [[Muslim]] minorities living in the Russian Federation. [[Alexander Dugin]] argues:<ref>http://www.aspeninstitute.it/aspenia-online/article/russian-conservative-view-putin-interview-alexander-dugin</ref>
{{Cquote|If we consider the situation in Russia more closely, we will discover that almost all that is said in the West about Putin is wrong. It is a complete caricature. The most important criticism of Putin inside Russia is not from the liberals. Liberals represent the smallest part of the critics. They are absolutely marginal… So the West is absolutely wrong in thinking that there is this big liberal opposition to Putin that is artificially kept down. The real opposition to Putin is growing completely on the other side of Russian society. It is growing discontent with "lunar" Putin, against the Putin who is surrounded by liberals. All the government is completely not only corrupt, it consists of pro-Western liberals. Nothing has changed after the last election.}}

[[Forbes]] ranked Putin as the most powerful man in the world as of December 2016, while Obama was ranked #48. Putin gains popularity every time he challenges the U.S. or Europe, or sends troops into Georgia.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/datablog/2015/jul/23/vladimir-putins-approval-rating-at-record-levels</ref> Putin's Russia is an authoritarian system, with restricted capitalism, a rubber stamp parliament, compliant media, imprisoned or exiled oligarchs, harassed NGOs, marginalized pro-Western democratic parties, and a foreign policy based on confronting [[Western]] hypocrisy, double standards, and cultural decadence, all based on money from oil and gas.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkaylan/2016/09/20/putin-brings-back-the-kgb-as-russia-moves-from-authoritarian-to-totalitarian/#48e4a416398a</ref><ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32860526]</ref>

In March 2018, Putin unveiled his revamped nuclear missile program, which was a response to the NATO challenge.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-01/putin-calls-for-raising-living-standards-in-annual-address Putin Shows Off New Nuclear Weapons, Warns West to ‘Listen’]</ref> In 2021, American socialist leader [[Joe Biden]] colluded with Putin to raise gasoline prices and home heating bills.<ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/18/bidens-record-spending-will-only-add-fuel-inflatio/</ref>

Putin has become the brunt of much hatred and snarling in [[the West]], which typically is responded to with the enjoinder, "The 80s are calling. They want their foreign policy back".<ref>https://www.salon.com/2012/10/23/obama_the_80s_called_they_want_their_foreign_policy_back/</ref> Putin is known for his quick-witted sense of humor.
{|class="infobox" style="float:right; font-size:85%; width:1ex; line-height:17px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 50px" cellpadding="1"
|[[File:Zelensky transvestism.PNG|410px]]
|[[File:Putin and Zelensky.png|300px]]
|-
|colspan="3"|<hr/>(Second from left) Actor, puppet, cocaine addict and [[commander-in-chief]] of Ukrainian armed forces [[Volodymyr Zelensky]], chest exposed, tight leather pants, wearing high heels depicted as the "modern [[Churchill]]" in Western [[psyops]];<ref>[https://medium.com/prismnpen/ukrainian-presidents-queer-parody-riles-american-evangelicals-66b41821b961 ''Prism and Pen''.]</ref> (right) President Vladimir Putin receives intelligence briefing on the person, character, and business connections of Volodymyr Zelensky.
|}
==Background==
Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952. According to a made-for-television documentary entitled, ''The second baptism of Rus'', Putin told a personal story how his mother had him secretly baptized in the Russian Orthodox church as his father, who was a member of the Communist Party organization in the factory where he worked, would have faced serious problems.<ref>https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2013/07/23/putin-christened-in-secret-from-his-father-a26057</ref> Putin was a [[judo]] champion in his youth.<ref>http://nypost.com/2013/11/13/vladimir-putin-is-tougher-than-chuck-norris/</ref> He was educated in law and economics at Leningrad State University before being assigned to work in the [[KGB]].<ref>[http://en.putin.kremlin.ru/ Webpage of Vladimir Putin]</ref> After five years in [[East Germany]], he took up various political positions before becoming [[prime minister]] in 1999.
[[File:Vladtheimpaler.jpg|thumb|200px|Putin at an conference]]
He was married to Lyudmila Putina, a former stewardess with Aeroflot, from July 28, 1983, until 2014, when the two divorced. They have two daughters.

The legend of Putin began the night of the [[Fall of the Wall]] in Germany. Putin was stationed in the consulate in [[Dresden]]. A mob had raided the [[East German]] [[Stasi]] headquarters and moved on to the Soviet consulate. In the chaos, communication with [[Moscow]] was cut off. Putin, acting alone without instructions and armed only with a pistol, stared down the mob and told them if they took one more step, they would be shot. The mob retreated and returned to continue pillaging the Stasi headquarters.

As the 1990s progressed, Western [[capital]] and corporate raiders flooded into Russia to buy up Soviet assets at bargain basement prices. Prior to the collapse, Soviet enterprises did not operate on the profit motive and received government subsidies, keeping outmoded factories and industries alive while operating at a loss to keep workers employed. When the subsidies and transfers of wealth perished with the Soviet government, the country fell into a deep recession. People were not very enamored toward the transition to capitalism as foreign investors took control of the nation's economy.<ref>In a review of ''New York Times'' reporter Anne Williamson's book, ''Contagion: The Betrayal of Liberty -- Russia and the United States in the 1990s'', Paul Likoudis writes: "According to the [[socialist]] theoreticians at [[Harvard]], Russia needed to be brought into the [[New World Order]] in a hurry; and what better way to do it than [Jeffrey] Sachs' "shock therapy" -- a plan that empowered the degenerate, third-generation descendants of the original [[Bolshevik]]s by assigning them the deeds of Russia's mightiest state-owned industries -- including the giant gas, oil, electrical, and telecommunications industries, the world's largest paper, iron, and steel factories, the world's richest gold, silver, diamond, and platinum mines, automobile and airplane factories, etc. -- who, in turn, sold some of their shares of the properties to Westerners for a song, and pocketed the cash, while retaining control of the companies.

These third-generation Bolsheviks -- led by former [[Pravda]] hack Yegor Gaidar, grandson of a Bolshevik who achieved prominence as the [[Young mass murders|teenage mass murderer]] of [[White Army]] officers, now heads the Moscow-based Institute for Economies in Transition -- became instant millionaires (or billionaires) and left the Russian workers virtual slaves of them and their new foreign investors." [https://www.blacklistednews.com/HOW_CLINTON_AND_COMPANY_AND_THE_BANKERS_PLUNDERED_RUSSIA_IN_THE_%2790S/48111/0/38/38/Y/M.html HOW CLINTON AND COMPANY AND THE BANKERS PLUNDERED RUSSIA IN THE '90s], Paul Likoudis, January 2, 2016 </ref> As in the Dresden incident, Putin's reputation of instinctively standing up to foreign intruders in defense of his country propelled his political rise.

===Domestic policy===
A [[Christian]] himself, Putin governs a nation that is rapidly becoming more Christian and more [[conservative]], and his snubbing of [[liberal]] [[Obama]] in May 2012 suggests that Putin is well aware of how conservative his country is becoming. On social issues and taxation, Russia under Putin is more conservative today than the [[Western Europe]].

In terms of achievements, Putin has successfully opposed the [[homosexual agenda]] and has supported [[pro-life]] reforms. He has also stabilized the Russian economy and restored Russia's national pride, largely by politically exploiting the financial windfall of Europe's need for Russian oil and gas. Russians were enthusiastic that he ended the social chaos that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent pell-mell privatization of the state-owned economy. Many Russians have been mesmerized by the new glitter of Moscow and the restored glamour of St. Petersburg. Russia's revived self-pride follows the humiliation of the chaos after 1991 and the incompetence of his predecessor [[Boris Yeltsin]]. Russians have a long history of authoritarian governments and a strong distaste for anarchy. They have little experience with freedom. The Russian mafia, which is more sophisticated than its counterparts elsewhere, controls more than 40 percent of the total economy. Their control is thought to be even greater in certain areas, such as banking, real estate, and consumer markets.<ref>[http://www.worldbank.org/html/prddr/trans/janfeb97/art4.htm Louise I. Shelley, ''The Price Tag of Russia's Organized Crime'']</ref> In November 2014, Putin started allowing his citizens to own concealed firearms for self-defense, but under certain restrictions.<ref>https://www.rt.com/news/206703-russia-guns-self-defense/</ref> Russia under Putin made it illegal for foreigners without a permit to preach, and banned cults that are harmful to families (Jehovah's Witnesses and Scientology engage in family shunning while Falun Gong, whose founder lives in a luxurious property, prevents family members from seeking medical treatment).<ref>http://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2197s</ref> Not having a permit is why a Baptist pastor got heavily fined.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/russia-persecution-christians-intensifies-putin-cant-be-trusted-experts-warn-184255/</ref> Like many parts of Europe, blasphemy against the church is also illegal.<ref>http://www.aif.ru/society/law/delo_est_a_boga_net_za_chto_na_samom_dele_sudyat_viktora_krasnova?fbclid=IwAR2bypeUccKIaU4-J0V-Ybe4pl0EsUK32g4EaItpB8pdJ_ZQ5SYS37lh7dU</ref><ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/03/russian-atheist-faces-year-in-jail-for-denying-existence-of-god-during-webchat</ref>

In May 2019, Putin signed a bill into law ordering the creation of "a national internet network that would be able to operate independently from the rest of the world."<ref>Gstalter, Morgan (May 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/policy/international/441751-putin-signs-controversial-internet-law Putin signs controversial internet law]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 2, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/05/02/putin-signs-sovereign-internet-law-expands-government-control/ Putin Signs ‘Sovereign Internet’ Law, Expands Government Control]</ref> Russia began testing this network.<ref>Bonn, Tess (December 26, 2019). [https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/475984-russia-successfully-tests-country-wide-alternative-to-global Russia successfully tests country-wide alternative to global internet]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved December 26, 2019.</ref>

===Political career===
[[File:V Putin.jpg|thumb|200px]]
In the Yeltsin years during the transition to capitalism, corrupt foreign and domestic [[oligarch]]s took control of the country. Putin's rise to power as a [[populist]] was by taxing and driving out corrupt foreign oligarchs whom the public viewed as looting the country, and throwing in jail corrupt domestic oligarchs as tax cheats. The oligarchs were his political enemies. Putin's success as a leader in Russia came about by reigning in the power of oligarchs. He allowed them to run the Russian economy provided that they stay out of politics, unlike Western so-called "democracies". Contrary to [[Western]] and [[CIA]] propaganda, Putin is not a friend of or controlled by oligarchs; rather, the oligarchs bow to his instructions and demands.

Putin is mainly backed by the [[United Russia]] (''Единая Россия'') party, which currently holds a majority in the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, known as the ''Duma''. As a centrist party, it usually reflects the political views of Putin, which are that of authoritarian statism and [[nationalism]]. On March 14, 2004, he was elected to a second term as president with 71% of the vote. Barred from a third consecutive term by the Russian constitution, Putin ceded the presidency to [[Dmitry Medvedev]] on May 7, 2008, and became Prime Minister, at the time-sharing power with the more moderate Medvedev. Medvedev did not run for a second term, and, as a result, Putin was re-elected in 2012. Putin was again re-elected in 2018, facing little real opposition.

After his 2018 victory, Putin's approval ratings fell significantly due to public disapproval of some of his domestic policies.<ref>Bennetts, Marc (August 12, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/12/vladimir-putin-faces-russia-democracy-movement-dec/ Putin's political milestone marred by plummeting polls, massive protests]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved August 12, 2019.</ref>

==Political views==
Putin has been accused of employing the United States [[Democratic party]] tactic of illegal surveillance, harassment, investigation, arrest, and jailing political opponents and dissidents, ostensibly as agents of a foreign power or domestic terrorists.

Learning from the mistakes of USSR in the Eastern Bloc, he made clear that taking countries against their right to self-determination is counterproductive and drains resources.<ref>https://youtu.be/DHIxry8WfyA</ref>

===Relations with NATO===
In an interview with David Frost broadcast on the [[BBC]] on March 13, 2000, Putin expressed his desire to see Russia join NATO:<ref>https://www.gazeta.ru/2001/02/28/putin_i_bbc.shtml</ref>
[[File:Putin unkown soldier.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Putin lays a wreath a the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the anniversary of the German invasion of the Soviet Union.]]
{{quotebox-float|'''Frost: Tell me about your views on NATO, if you would. Do you see NATO as a potential partner, or rival, or an enemy?'''

'''Putin:''' Russia is a part of European culture. I simply cannot see my country isolated from Europe, from what we often describe as the civilized world. That is why it is hard for me to regard NATO as an enemy. I think that such a perception has nothing good in store for Russia and the rest of the world. ...

We strive for equal cooperation, partnership, we believe that it is possible to speak even about higher levels of integration with NATO. But only, I repeat, if Russia is an equal partner. As you know, we constantly express our negative attitude to NATO's expansion to the East. ...

'''Frost: Is it possible that Russia will ever join NATO?'''

'''Putin:''' Why not? I do not rule out such a possibility. I repeat, on condition that Russia's interests are going to be taken into account, if Russia becomes a full-fledged partner. I want to specially emphasize this. ...

When we say that we object to NATO's expansion to the East, we are not expressing any special ambitions of our own, ambitions in respect of some regions of the world. ... By the way, we have never declared any part of the world a zone of our national interests. Personally, I prefer to speak about strategic partnership. The zone of strategic interests of any particular region means first of all the interests of the people who live in that region. ...}}
Within hours after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to call President [[George W. Bush]] and offer sympathy and support for what became the first invocation of NATO Article V, "an attack against one is an attack against all."<ref>https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/10/ar911.russia.putin/index.html</ref> Putin announced a five-point plan to support the [[war on terror]], pledging that the Russian government would (1) share intelligence with their American counterparts, (2) open Russian airspace for flights providing humanitarian assistance (3) cooperate with Russia's Central Asian allies in [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]] to provide similar kinds of airspace access to American flights, (4) participate in international search and rescue efforts, and (5) increase direct assistance -humanitarian as well as military assistance -- to the Afghan Northern Alliance. The intelligence Putin shared, including data that helped American forces find their way around [[Kabul]] and logistical information about Afghanistan’s topography and caves, contributed to the success of operation and rout of the Taliban. Two weeks after the attacks, Putin was invited to make a speech to a Special Session of the Bundestag, the first ever by a Russian head of state to the German parliament.<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/40168</ref> Among the numerous subjects Putin addressed in fluent German was peace and stability in the common European home:
{{quotebox-float|"But what are we lacking today for cooperation to be efficient?

In spite of all the positive achievements of the past decades, we have not yet developed an efficient mechanism for working together.

The coordinating agencies set up so far do not offer Russia real opportunities for taking part in drafting and taking decision. Today decisions are often taken, in principle, without our participation, and we are only urged afterwards to support such decisions. After that they talk again about loyalty to NATO. They even say that such decisions cannot be implemented without Russia. Let us ask ourselves: is this normal? Is this true partnership?

Yes, the assertion of [[democratic]] principles in international relations, the ability to find a correct decision and readiness for compromise are a difficult thing. But then, it was the Europeans who were the first to understand how important it is to look for consensus over and above national egoism. We agree with that! All these are good ideas. However, the quality of decisions that are taken, their efficiency and, ultimately, European and international security in general depend on the extent to which we succeed today in translating these obvious principles into practical politics.

It seemed just recently that a truly common home would shortly rise on the continent, a home in which the Europeans would not be divided into eastern or western, northern or southern. However, these divides will remain, primarily because we have never fully shed many of the Cold War stereotypes and cliches.

Today we must say once and for all: the Cold War is done with! We have entered a new stage of development. We understand that without a modern, sound and sustainable security architecture we will never be able to create an atmosphere of trust on the continent, and without that atmosphere of trust there can be no united Greater Europe! Today we must say that we renounce our stereotypes and ambitions and from now on will jointly work for the security of the people of Europe and the world as a whole.}}
In 2004 the Baltic states - [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], and [[Estonia]] joined NATO in violation of assurances made to Russian leaders when German Unification occurred. The provocative action created for the first time a common border between the Russian Federation and a NATO state. Three years later, at the Munich Security Conference, Putin declared, “We have the right to ask: against whom is this [NATO] expansion intended? And what happened to the assurances our western partners made after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those declarations today? No one even remembers them.”<ref>https://aldeilis.net/english/putins-historical-speech-munich-conference-security-policy-2007/</ref> In 2008 NATO said Ukraine and Georgia would become members. Four other [[Eastern Europe]]an states joined NATO in 2009.

In the face of the NATO onslaught, Putin repeatedly warned the West with the refrain of a made popular by [[Yulia Chicherina]] during the ongoing NATO-funded [[Donbas war]],<ref>https://youtu.be/HdVkbCGEyT8</ref> "we have nowhere to retreat."<ref>https://youtu.be/i0YqXRPHisE</ref>

===Relations with the EU===
[[File:Putin ate my homework.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Anti-Putin Russophobia in the West, 2022.]]
In 2014 Putin founded the [[Eurasian Economic Union]] to counter [[European Union]] meddling in [[Eastern Europe]]an nation's affairs.

After [[Crimea]] was returned to Russia, the European Union imposed sanctions against Putin and the Russian government.<ref>http://rt.com/business/168192-eu-sanctions-crimea-deadlock/</ref>

The relations within the EU are different and divided, it is mainly the following countries advocating namely a critical attitude towards the Russian government: the Baltic states ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]]) [[Poland]], [[Sweden]], [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]],<ref>http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russian-sanctions-debate-divides-eu/</ref><ref>https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4464/eu-russia</ref>
while the following countries have a less hostile attitude or want to maintain a better relationship: [[Hungary]], [[Italy]] and [[Czech Republic]].

Also, multiple nationalist parties in the EU appreciate Putin's policies against the Leftist liberal dominance in Europe, like [[Marine Le Pen]]'s [[French National Front|National Front]].

Despite EU sanctions, Russia under cooperation between Putin and [[German]] Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] continued expanding economically into Western Europe.<ref>Strobel, Warren P. (March 11, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-economic-clout-in-europe-grows-despite-sanctions-study-says-11552333028 Russia’s Economic Clout in Europe Grows Despite Sanctions, Study Says]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.</ref>

===Relations under George W. Bush===
Initially relations between [[George W. Bush]] and Putin were good, with Putin lending support to Bush's war on global terror. Putin was restrained from giving much assistance outside the Russian Federation, being pre-occupied with the [[Islamist]] movements waging [[jihad]] inside his own borders.

In Bush's late second term, Putin was concerned about jihadist infiltration from [[Turkey]] and [[Syria]] through the [[Republic of Georgia]], and intervened. Former members of the [[Warsaw Pact]], who were more supportive of the war on terror than even the US population, then asked for deployment of missile defense systems on their territories, which the [[Bush administration]] was inclined to favor as a reward for their help. Russia considered missile defense deployment on their borders overt acts of hostility. Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, in competition to outdo each other, condemned George W. Bush and [[Condoleezza Rice]] by sidling up to the Russians and Islamists whom the [[Democrat]]s portrayed as oppressed victims of a [[globalism|global]] [[neocon]] [[conspiracy]].

===Relations under Barack Obama===
[[File:Targeted sanctions.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Targetted Sanctions'', from a Moscow art exhibition.]]
President [[Barack Obama]] and Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] initially cozied up to Putin, charging the Bush administration was intent on reigniting the [[Cold War]]. However once the [[Rosatom-Uranium One deal]] was completed and the [[Clinton Foundation]] pocketed millions of dollars from Putin cronies in donations and speaking fees, relations began to sour as the Obama administration could no longer ignore geopolitical realities. Putin had protested the Obama administrations illegal drone strikes, and the administration placed [[Magnitsky Act|sanctions on Russian leaders]] ostensibly in retaliation for the Crimean referendum.<ref>https://youtu.be/I-9aD45qxbE</ref>

President Obama's decision to move an anti-missile defense system to [[Romania]] during the [[2016 US Presidential election]] only heightened tensions. Putin, who had repeatedly assailed the antimissile system as a grave danger to Russia's security, called Obama's decision dangerous. This coupled with Obama's implementation of sanctions rather than honor the [[American foreign policy#1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances|1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]] negotiated by the [[Clinton administration]], displaying it as an empty promise to guarantee Ukrainian independence, only further exposed the befuddlement and inability of the Obama administration to stand by US commitments and the weaknesses of NATO.

In September 2013, Putin gave a speech stating the need to strengthen Russian culture with traditional values and the Orthodox Christian church. Also, he condemned Western nations and their godless pursuit of [[political correctness]] and [[homosexuality]].<ref>[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/cdedfd64-214f-11e3-a92a-00144feab7de.html#axzz2jdyir54U Putin urges Russians to return to values of religion, FT.com, September 19, 2013]</ref>

In early September 2013, Putin expressly observed that liberal [[John Kerry]] is a liar.

====Obama/Biden Maidan coup====
{{See also|Maidan coup}}
[[File:Revolution of Dignity.PNG|left|300px|thumb|Russian victims of the Obama-backed "[[Revolution of Dignity]]."<ref>https://archive.fo/1XFO5</ref>]]
Putin is seen as an antagonist by [[liberal]]s in the West, who are angry about their inability to push the [[homosexual agenda]] and pro-[[abortion]] policies on Russia. Putin views NATO enlargement by absorbing former Soviet client states as a potential threat to the Russian Federation. Putin has proposed a policy of "Findlandization", i.e., making permanently neutral the Ukraine and Georgia and not incorporating them into NATO under the US's Partners for Peace program. Putin's alleged rigged election system, nuclear energy contracts and military alliance with Iran have heightened tensions. According to [[mainstream media]], the decline of [[human rights]] in Russia has been dramatic; for example, Russian riot police beat a number of protesters and journalists at an anti-Putin rally at Pushkin Square in Moscow,<ref>''The Economist'', April 21, 2007</ref> and Putin rigged national elections for his party <ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL03585550._CH_.2400</ref>

Putin has even exercised power over the Russian supreme court. Justice Vladimir Yaroslavtsev was forced to resign after warning that Russian security agencies now control the country as they did in Soviet times and expressing alarm over their lack of accountability. Justice Anatoly Kononov was likewise forced out after defending Yaroslavtsev.<ref>[http://www.robertamsterdam.com/2009/12/are_you_an_independent_russian_judge_youre_fired.htm ''Are You An Independent Russian Judge? You're Fired'', RobertAmsterdam.com]</ref>

Many who have reported or protested such things have found themselves being repressed - or killed.<ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/putins_own_worst_enemy.html Kim Zigfeld, ''Putin's Own Worst Enemy''] American Thinker, December 08, 2009</ref><ref>http://larussophobe.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/editorial-another-russian-journalist-takes-the-putin-plunge</ref> Journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]], an outspoken critic of Putin, was assassinated in 2006,<ref>http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1819666.ece</ref> and it is widely believed that the Russian government had some involvement in this death. There were 13 journalists killed in contract-style slayings during Vladimir Putin's eight-year presidency.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438381,00.html Russian Lawyer in Slain Journalist Case Says She, Family Poisoned] AP, October 15, 2008</ref>

Despite these negatives – or perhaps because of the strong hand they reveal – Putin remains popular in Russia.<ref>http://www.levada.ru/prezident.html Putin's Approval Ratings</ref> Since coming to power, Putin has expanded Russia's economy and reduced inflation. The majority of Russians are relatively uninterested in politics outside of issues affecting their personal prosperity,<ref>''The Economist'', April 21, 2007</ref> and journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]] argued that the Russian people, as a whole, have been willing to tolerate violence in the name of "comfort and peace and quiet".<ref>Politkovskaya, Anna. Putin's Russia. London: Harvill Press, 2004</ref>

===Relations under Donald Trump===

President [[Donald Trump]] accused Putin of taking [[Crimea]] by force and asked whether Obama was too soft on Russia.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-latest-tweet-accuse-crimea-obama-too-soft-distance-campaign-team-white-house-a7581511.html Donald Trump accuses Russia of taking Crimea by force in attempt to distance himself from campaign allegations]</ref> In March 2017 the US department of state strongly condemned the arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/26/hundreds-arrested-mass-protests-against-vladimir-putins-government/ Washington condemns arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government]</ref> The US Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson]] said that US sanctions against Russia will remain in place until Moscow "reverses the actions" it has taken in Ukraine.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/31/politics/rex-tillerson-russia-ukraine/ Tillerson: US to maintain Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia until Crimea is returned]</ref>

In response to the April, 4 chemical attack on Khan Shaykhun in [[Syria]], President Trump launched 59-Tomahawk rockets on a Syrian Air base nearby, tensions led up with Russia, Syria's ally, Putin has called that the US attack was an "illegal act of aggression",<ref>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4389332/Russia-calls-airstrikes-Syria-act-aggression.html</ref> and answered this attack by sending a frigate to the military base in Syria.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/world/middleeast/russia-iran-us-strikes-syria.html?_r=0</ref> In April 2017 Putin explained that the US-Russia relations have gotten worse under Trump, contrary to narratives put out by the liberal mainstream media that Trump is too "soft" to Putin and is Putin's 'puppet' .<ref>http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/228064</ref>

In December 2017 Putin warned President Trump because of his decision to move the US embassy from [[Tel Aviv]] to [[Jerusalem]] and stated that he was "deeply concerned".<ref>[https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239041 Putin 'deeply concerned' by Trump's Jerusalem move]. ''IsraelNationalNews''. December 18, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2018.</ref> Putin also opposed Trump's withdrawal from the [[Iran nuclear deal]] and told that Russia would continue to honor its obligations under this deal.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/putin-criticizes-u-s-over-iran-deal-at-summit-with-china-1.6158932 Putin Criticizes Trump Over Iran Nuclear Deal]. ''Haaretz''. June 10, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.</ref>

In March 2018, Russian Propaganda video was released showing how a new missile program could be used to attack America. In the video, the state of [[Florida]] was specifically targeted.<ref>[http://fortune.com/2018/03/01/putin-russia-nuclear-threat-florida-mar-a-lago/ Why Russia Would Specifically Choose to Threaten Florida With a Nuclear Blast]</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43248794 Why would Putin want to nuke Florida?]</ref>

===Relations with Joe Biden===
{{See also|Biden/Harris regime foreign policy#Ukraine}}
[[File:Joe Biden at CFR meeting 2018 2.jpeg|right|300px|thumb|The [[Biden family]] is on the payroll of the Ukrainian firm [[Burisma]], while many Ukrainian operatives in the U.S.<ref>e.g. [[Alexandra Chalupa]] and [[Alexander Vindman]]</ref> and abroad are inimically hostile toward Russia.]]
As vice-president in 2011, Putin snubbed [[Joe Biden]] in a face-to-face meeting. Sitting across a conference table Putin, Biden attempted to lecture Putin. Biden said, "I’ve been around a long time. The first time I was here…” and in mid-sentence his microphone was cut off,<ref>https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/10/remarks-vice-president-joe-biden-and-russian-prime-minister-vladimir-put</ref> the lights for the TV cameras went off, and the press was told to leave. The press exited quickly and quietly. Videocameras were disassembled from tripods and still photographers stopped shooting. Portable lights came down from retractable poles. No one spoke and no one lingered. Putin baited Biden, pulled the plug, stole Biden's audience, and rendered him speechless. Putin and the Russian delegation sat as their American counterparts realized Biden's big moment had been stolen right out from under him. Putin had neither fear nor respect for Biden, and Biden was humiliated.<ref>https://thenationalpulse.com/analysis/putin-humiliated-biden-in-moscow-meeting/</ref>

In 2014 Hunter Biden colluded with and received $3.5 million from [[Elena Baturina]], the richest woman in Russia and widow of former Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov as payment to establish an American bank account for her.<ref>https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missionquestfpb/shock-man-who-had-hunter-biden-s-laptop-suggests-t-t10669-s2420.html</ref> In late 2019 Baturina was declared a fugitive from Russian justice.<ref>https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-court-declares-late-moscow-mayor-s-widow-wanted-after-failure-to-appear/30348065.html</ref>

Biden cozied up to Vladimir Putin when he rescinded the Trump-era opposition to the [[Nord Stream II]] pipeline.<ref>https://dennismichaellynch.com/daily-newsletter/</ref> The Russian project is designed to ship gas and oil directly from Russia to [[Germany]] under the [[Baltic Sea]]. Russia has attempted to pressure Ukraine numerous time since the break-up of the Soviet Union to abandon its bid to join [[NATO]] by cutting off oil and gas supplies. In doing so, Russia inadvertently also cuts off supplies to Germany, a very rich and large customer. The Nordtream pipeline is intended to counter this collateral effect, while pressuring Ukraine, [[Poland]] and [[Hungary]] to remain in the Russian orbit. The pipeline itself is a massive scandal in Germany, with for [[Democratic Socialist]] [[Gerhard Schroeder]] chancellor heading the Nordstram pipeline company and a major stockholders.<ref>https://www.politico.eu/article/opinion-schroders-russian-sell-out/</ref>

''[[Newsweek]]'' reported three weeks after [[Operation Denazification]] in Ukraine began that Putin's Approval Ratings in Russia rose from 60% before the operation to 71%.<ref>https://www.newsweek.com/vladimir-putin-approval-rating-poll-latest-levada-russia-1687543</ref>

{{Anchor|Empire of Lies}}
====Empire of Lies speech====

On February 24, 2022 Putin delivered an anti-[[woke]] speech condemning the United States promotion, both domestically and among its allies, [[values]] that are "contrary to human nature":
[[File:Putin and Zelensky.png|right|300px|thumb|Putin's "My Pet Goat" moment: Putin being briefed on [[Volodoymr Zelensky]]'s [[transvestism]] and wearing high heels.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/f1Ll6yw172sg/</ref>]]
{{quotebox-float|"US politicians, political scientists and journalists write and say that a veritable “empire of lies” has been created inside the United States in recent years. It is hard to disagree with this – it is really so. But one should not be modest about it: the United States is still a great country and a system-forming power. All its satellites not only humbly and obediently say 'yes' to, and parrot it at the slightest pretext, but also imitate its behavior and enthusiastically accept the rules it is offering them. Therefore, one can say with good reason and confidence that the whole so-called [[Western bloc]] formed by the United States in its own image and likeness is, in its entirety, the very same “empire of lies.”

As for our country, after the disintegration of the USSR, given the entire unprecedented [[glasnost|openness]] of the new, modern Russia, its readiness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners, and its practically unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to put the final squeeze on us, finish us off, and utterly destroy us. This is how it was in the 1990s and the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West was actively supporting separatism and gangs of [[mercenaries]] in southern Russia. What victims, what losses we had to sustain, and [[Russia#Chechen_wars|what trials we had to go through]] at that time before we broke the back of international terrorism in the [[Caucasus]]! We remember this and will never forget.<ref>Putin is speaking of such events as the [[Beslan massacre]]</ref>

Properly speaking, the attempts to use us in their own interests never ceased until quite recently: they sought to destroy our [[traditional values]] and force on us their [[Liberalism|false values]] that would erode us, our people from within, the attitudes they have been aggressively imposing on their countries, attitudes that are directly leading to degradation and degeneration, because they are contrary to [[human nature]]. This is not going to happen. No one has ever succeeded in doing this, nor will they succeed now."<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

====Donbas war====
[[File:Azov Battalion.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Putin opposes U.S. and NATO-backed Nazis who led the Maidan coup and have killed thousands of people since 2014.]]
{{See also|Donbas war}}

====Responsibility to protect, preventative action, and collective self-defense====
{{See also|Russia-Ukraine war}}
Vladimir Putin set forth a claim under the doctrine of 'anticipatory collective self-defense' which was devised originally by the [[Clinton administration]] and NATO in regard to the 1998 [[Kosovo]] conflict,<ref>https://youtu.be/rsSB_2RShBQ</ref> as it applies to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.<ref> https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/29/russia-ukraine-the-law-of-war-crime-of-aggression/</ref> The unilateral declarations of independence by the Donbas republics are completely legal and precedented by [[the West]]'s successful demands for Kosovo to be recognized as independent from [[Serbia]], and adjudicated as such by the International Courts.<ref>https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/141</ref>

The Organization of World Peace reported in 2021, “according to Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Decree no. 117/2021, Ukraine has committed to putting all options on the table to taking back control over the Russian annexed Crimea region. Signed on March 24th, President Zelensky has committed the country to pursue strategies that . . . ‘will prepare and implement measures to ensure the de-occupation and reintegration of the peninsula.’”<ref>https://theowp.org/ukraine-declares-all-options-possible-even-war-to-retake-crimea-from-russia/</ref> Given that the residents of Crimea, most of whom are ethnic Russians, are quite happy with the current state of affairs under Russian governance – this, according to a 2020 ''[[Washington Post]]'' report – Zelensky’s threat in this regard was not only a threat against Russia itself but was also a threat of potentially massive bloodshed against a people who do not want to go back to Ukraine.<ref>https://archive.ph/5s7Cd</ref> The Donbas war represents a much more compelling case for justifying Russian intervention under the ''Responsibility to Protect'' (R2P) doctrine which has been advocated by such Western ‘humanitarians’ as [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Samantha Power]], and [[Susan Rice]], and which was relied upon to justify the NATO interventions in countries like the former [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Libya]].

In 1998, Kosovo was not a member of the United Nations, so the right of collective self-defense of member states was challenged. Kosovo was forcibly severed from a member state, [[Serbia]], by NATO and given given legal status later. Residents of Kosovo never voted by referendum to declare independence from Serbia. By established international precedents, in 2014 the residents of the [[Donetsk Republic]], the [[Lugansk Republic]], and [[Crimea]] voted to separate from [[Ukraine]]. The Russian State Duma recognized the decision of the voters and change in international borders, annexed Crimea and in 2022 signed collective security agreements with the Donetsk and Lugansk republics.

On February 24, 2022 Vladimir Putin addressed the nation and made clear the objective of the [[Special Military Operation]] in Ukraine was not [[regime change]]:
{{quotebox-float|"The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and [[genocide]] perpetrated by the Kiev regime. To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation. It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force."<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

=== Views on abortion ===
Putin rejects any constitutional right to [[abortion]], as exists in the [[United States]], but is not ready to ban abortion from [[Russia]] either. Instead, Putin has supported and enforced [[pro-life]] laws in Russian which would be invalidated by [[pro-abortion]] courts in the United States. In 2017, he said that he will allow societal (including church) views to guide him on the issue:<ref>[http://fortune.com/2017/12/14/vladimir-putin-russia-abortion-pro-choice-press-conference/ An article biased in favor of [[abortion]] but useful for its quotations]</ref>

:“In the modern world, the decision is up to the woman herself,” Putin said, and indicated that additional pro-life proposals “must be careful, considered and based on the general mood in society and the moral and ethical norms that have developed in society.”

Putin's "the decision" is an ambiguous phrase that could include the decision to have the pregnancy in the first place. Also, Putin is very pro-[[Russia]] and if thinks abortion is lowering the birth rate in a harmful way, then he could abolish it based on national interests.

===Views on wokism===
[[File:Putin popularity.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Vladimir Putin's Popularity rating rose to 83% during the Russia-Ukraine war.<ref>https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news-2022-03-30/card/putin-s-approval-rating-jumps-after-invasion-poll-shows-fm8f4uSdiVfTxORQOE0v</ref>]]
Putin told the Valdai Club in October 2021,<ref>https://www.rt.com/russia/538121-putin-children-swap-gender-monstrous/</ref>
{{quotebox-float|"We see with bemusement the process unfolding in countries that have grown accustomed to viewing themselves as the flagships of [[Progressive|progress]]. Of course it's none of our business what is happening - the social and cultural shocks that are happening in some Western countries. Some believe that aggressive blotting out of whole pages of your own history, and the requirement to renounce the traditional interpretation of such basic values as mother, father, family, and the distinction between sexes are a milestone towards a renewal of society...we have a different point of view. We believe, at least the overwhelming majority of Russian society, that we need to rely on our own spiritual values and our historical traditions.

On the culture of our multi-ethnic nation, the proponents of so-called 'social progress' believe that they are bringing a new consciousness to humanity. Something that is [[political correctness|more correct]]...The recipes they come up with are nothing new. Paradoxical as it may seem, but this is something we saw in Russia. It happened in our country before and after the [[October Revolution|1917 Revolution]]. The [[Bolshevik]]s followed the dogmas of [[Marx]] and [[Engels]]. And they also declared that they were going to change the traditional lifestyle, the political, the economic lifestyle, as well as the very notion of [[morality]], the basic principles. Fully, healthy society they were trying to destroy, century-long values. Revisiting the relationship between people. They were encouraging informing on one's own beloved and families. It was hailed as "the March of Progress" and it was very [[Popular Front|popular across the world]]. And it was supported by many.

As we see it is happening right now. Incidentally, the Bolsheviks were absolutely intolerant of other opinions different from their own. I think this should remind you of something that is happening...it is with puzzlement that we see the practices Russia used to have, and that we left behind... The fight for equality and against discrimination turns into an aggressive dogmatism on the brink of absurdity. When great authors of the past such as [[Shakespeare]] are no longer taught in
schools and universities because they did not understand the importance of gender or race.

And [[Hollywood]]. There are leaflets reminding what you should do in the films - how many personalities and actors you've got, what kind of color, what sex, and sometimes it's even stricter than what the Department of Propaganda of the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee did. And the fight against racism, which is a lofty goal, turns into [[cancel culture]] and reverse discrimination. Racism in reverse. It tears people apart. Whereas the true fighters for [[civil rights]], they were trying to eliminate those differences....[[Martin Luther King]] said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." That is a true value. ...in Russia, most of our Republics simply do not care what skin color you have. He or she, that's not that important, because each and every one of us is a human being. That's the most important thing.

The discussion about the rights of men and women has turned into a total phantasmagoria in a number of Western countries...Those who risk saying that men and women still exist, and that this is a biological fact, are virtually ostracized...And this is not new...In the 1920s, Soviet culture-warriors invented a so-called ‘[[newspeak]]’, believing that in this way they would create a new sense of consciousness and redefine people’s values...This is not to mention things that are simply monstrous, like when children are taught from an early age that a boy can easily become a girl and vice versa...In fact, they are indoctrinating them into the alleged choices that are supposedly available to everyone – removing parents from the equation and forcing the child to make decisions that can ruin their lives...This is borderline crime against humanity - all under the guise of "progress."<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6sIZ8-C1vw</ref>}}

=== Views on communism and the Soviet Union ===
[[File:Solzhenitsyn and Putin.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Russian President Vladimir Putin presents [[human rights]] activist [[Alexander Solzhenitsyn]] with an award. Solzhenitsyn set in motion the movement that toppled Soviet communism.]]
Putin famously said, "Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain."<ref>https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/vladimir_putin_452527</ref>

Putin has before called the [[Bolshevik]]s traitors for Russia's defeat in the First World War.<ref>https://www.rt.com/politics/putin-accuses-bolsheviks-treason-877/</ref> However, he has also expressed that "[he] liked Communist and socialist ideas very much and [he] like[s] them still." and compared the Soviet code of conduct to the [[Bible]].<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/russias-putin-says-he-always-liked-communist-socialist-ideas-419289</ref><ref>https://pjmedia.com/faith/tyler-o-neil/2018/01/17/putin-soviet-communism-is-very-similar-to-christianity-party-rules-are-a-bible-excerpt-n101328</ref> Putin also has compared communism with Christianity.<ref>Newman, Alex (January 16, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/28051-communism-very-similar-to-christianity-putin-claims Communism “Very Similar” to Christianity, Putin Claims]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 17, 2018.</ref> Putin has been accused by Western media of embracing the tactics of Soviet dictator [[Joseph Stalin]].<ref>https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-russia-stalin-model-20150611-story.html</ref> In addition, he implies in an interview with [[Larry King]] dated September 8, 2000 that his Christianity isn't actually sincere by stating in Russian that he "believes in the power of man" or "I believe in human beings." Though a few years later, his faith became more genuine.<ref>https://www.quora.com/Is-Vladimir-Putin-personally-religious</ref> Furthermore, around October 2017, he hosted the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students Communist event and gave a speech that strongly implied that he adhered to Communism.<ref>http://www.trevorloudon.com/2017/10/non-communist-putin-opens-major-international-communist-youth-festival/</ref><ref>http://www.trevorloudon.com/2017/07/russia-to-host-major-international-communist-youth-festival-on-putins-instructions/</ref>

Since passage of Sen. [[John McCain]]'s [[Magnitsky Act]], also known as the Russia sanctions bill which was signed into law by [[Barack Obama]] in an attempt to cripple the Russian Federation, Russia has been driven back into competition with the [[military-industrial complex]] It has provided arms and materiel to various communist groups, including [[Angola]], and has voiced a desire to reconnect with Latin America shortly before the FSLN regained power in Nicaragua and has supported [[Nicaragua]] via foreign aid, shipping tanks, and even posting a GLONASS tracking station on the Caribbean coast, alongside similar arming of North Korea.<ref>https://westernfreepress.com/is-vladimir-putin-a-communist/</ref><ref>https://www.trevorloudon.com/2017/12/is-vladimir-putin-a-communist/</ref> Putin is a close ally of the [[Venezuela]]'s Marxist Dictator [[Nicolás Maduro]] which he defends internationally.<ref>https://www.dw.com/es/la-alianza-estrat%C3%A9gica-de-maduro-y-putin/a-46618225</ref><ref>https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2019/06/06/vladimir-putin-volvio-a-respaldar-a-maduro-y-dijo-que-sus-asesores-militares-cumpliran-las-obligaciones-de-rusia-en-venezuela/</ref> He also indicated that he still keeps his KGB card while citing his contemporaries within the KGB had discarded theirs after the USSR's fall.<ref>https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/putin-his-communist-party-membership-card-i-still-keep-it-home</ref>

=== Views on Islam ===
In January 2018 Putin said that "[t]raditional Islam is an integral part of the Russian cultural code". He also vowed to support Islamic religious education.<ref>https://themoscowtimes.com/news/putin-calls-for-revival-of-islamic-education-in-russia-60276</ref>

Putin has openly endorsed the right of the Chechen people to cultural hegemony in the Chechen Federated Republic of the Russian Federation under [[Ramzan Kadyrov]].<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/03/26/putin-insists-on-russian-law-in-chechnya-while-supporting-muslim-president/</ref> Kadyrov has de facto established Islamic rule in the region and was condemned by the international community for slaughtering gay citizens.<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chechnya-ramzan-kadyrov-gay-citizens-massacre-chechen-leader-do-not-exist-russia-vladimir-putin-a7675906.html</ref> Chechen authorities have imposed a compulsory Islamic dresscode for women.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-12705300</ref>

==Critics==
Corporate media television host Sean Hannity has repeatedly issued warnings that Putin is a thug and a "bad actor" who cannot be trusted.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2018/02/16/hannity-examining-key-points-from-russian-indictments.html Hannity: Examining key points from Russian indictments]</ref>

[[Robert Kraft]], the [[NFL]] oligarch who was arrested on a morals charge in [[Florida]], accused Putin of stealing Kraft's [[Super Bowl]] ring. Putin responded that Kraft gave it to him as a gift.

==Quotes==
*"Anyone who doesn't regret the passing of the Soviet Union has no heart. Anyone who wants it restored has no brains."<ref>Parfitt, Tom (December 23, 2007). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/dec/23/russia.tomparfitt Spy who came in from the cold]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved September 15, 2018.</ref>

*“I think all sober-minded people who really are involved in politics understand that the idea of a Russian threat to, for example, the Baltics is complete madness. Are we really about to fight NATO? How many people are there in the NATO countries? About 600 million, correct? There are 146 million people in Russia. Yes, we're the biggest nuclear power. But do you really think that we're about to conquer the Baltics using nuclear weapons? What is this madness?”

*If nukes head towards Russia we are going to Paradise, but they won't have time to repent."<ref>https://youtu.be/YeNwyVG8Egs</ref>

*"Hitler tried to destroy Russia. Everyone needs to remember how that ended."

*"If you try to bite Russia, we'll knock your teeth out."

*"[[Berlusconi]] is being tried because he lives with women. If he were homosexual, no one would lift a finger against him."<ref>https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1202445</ref>

*"There is also the so-called [[liberal]] idea, which has outlived its purpose. Our Western partners have admitted that some elements of the liberal idea, such as [[multiculturalism]], are no longer tenable."<ref>https://www.ft.com/video/a49cfa25-610e-438c-b11d-5dac19619e08</ref>

==See also==
* [[Dmitri Medvedev]]
* [[Crisis in Ukraine]]
* [[Russophobia]]
* [[Oleg Deripaska]]
* [[Yelena Baturina]]

==Further reading==
* Baker, Peter, and Susan Glasser. ''Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin's Russia and the End of Revolution'' (2nd ed. 2007); [https://www.amazon.com/Kremlin-Rising-Vladimir-Revolution-Updated/dp/1597971227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256923460&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Goldman, Marshall I. ''Petrostate: Putin, Power, and the New Russia'' (2008) [https://www.amazon.com/Petrostate-Putin-Power-New-Russia/dp/0195340736/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256915128&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]
* Lucas, Edward. ''The New Cold War: Putin's Russia and the Threat to the West'' (2009) [https://www.amazon.com/New-Cold-War-Putins-Russia/dp/0230614345/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256915128&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Stuermer, Michael. ''Putin and the Rise of Russia'' (2009)
* Wegren, Stephen K., and Dale R. Herspring, eds. ''After Putin's Russia: Past Imperfect, Future Uncertain'' (4th ed. 2009) [https://www.amazon.com/After-Putins-Russia-Imperfect-Uncertain/dp/0742557855/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 excerpt and text search]
* Poleev, Andrej. [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4621093 Putinism: A Phenomenological and Prototypical Investigation.] (2012-2021).

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://putin.kremlin.ru/ Official Putin Website]
* [http://kremlin.ru/ Official President of Russia Website]
* [[David Horowitz|Horowitz, David]], [http://frontpagemag.com/2013/frontpagemag-com/putin-and-the-shadow-of-the-kgb-on-the-glazov-gang/ Putin and the shadow of the KGB on the Glazov Gang], Sherman Oaks, [[California]]: [http://www.frontpagemag.com/about/ David Horowitz Freedom Center], Published April 5, 2013.
*[https://youtu.be/cMFIWBQB1kE WATCH and LISTEN: Putin Sings Russian National Anthem With 130,000 People!] (Subtitles and lyrics in closed captioning)
*[https://youtu.be/8X7Ng75e5gQ Vladimir Pozner: How the United States Created Vladimir Putin], YaleUniversity, Oct. 2, 2018. YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Putin, Vladimir}}

[[Category:Current Heads of State]]
[[Category:Russian People]]
[[Category:Russian Political People]]
[[Category:Orthodox Christians]]
[[Category:Men]]
[[Category:Nationalists]]
[[Category:Pro-Life]]

Vladimir Putin

2022-05-22T03:58:08Z

Conservapeta: /* Quotes */

{{Officeholder
|name=Vladimir Putin
|image=Vladimir Putin (2017-07-08).jpg
|party=[[United Russia]]
|offices=|offices={{Officeholder/president
|country=Russia
|number=2nd and 4th
|terms=December 31, 1999 – May 7, 2008 (first) May 7, 2012 – (second)
|vp=[[Dmitry Medvedev]]
|preceded=[[Boris Yeltsin]] (First term), Dmitry Medvedev (Second term)
|succeeded
}}
|religion=[[Russian Orthodox]]
}}
'''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Владимир Владимирович Путин) (born October 7, 1952) is the socially [[conservative]] president of the [[Russian Federation]], a position he's held since 2012, after serving as prime minister since May 8, 2008, and previously serving as [[president]] since December 31, 1999<ref>[[Boris Yeltsin]] resigned from the presidency on that day, and Putin was later elected president by 54% of the electorate on March 26, 2000.</ref> Vladimir Putin's decision in February 2022 to commit an incursion into the [[Ukraine]] was based upon the [[Bush Doctrine]] of preventative war and the UN sanctioned doctrine of R2P (responsibility to protect), as articulated by [[Samantha Power]] during the 2011 [[Libyan war]], to protect civilians in the [[Donbas]] region who had endured eight years of atrocities by the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup|Maidan regime]] and which was preparing a large full scale military action against Russian-speaking people.

Despite Western [[propaganda]] and calls for an uprising to overthrow Vladimir Putin, more than 1 million people turned out in the streets of [[Moscow]] for the 2022 [[Victory Day]] celebrations of the Immortal Regiment for which Vladimir Putin was the featured honored speaker.<ref>https://videopress.com/v/KnJnf4eu</ref>

Putin had increased Russia's stature in international affairs despite its weak economic position.<ref>Seib, Gerald F. (May 6, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-punches-above-his-weight-11557150000 Putin Punches Above His Weight]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved May 7, 2019.</ref> As a result of the economic sanctions leveled against Putin, he was booted out of the [[World Economic Forum]].<ref>https://twitter.com/teddyfenton1/status/1498792512772784128|</ref> As of March 2022 however, Putin still maintained a [[Twitter]] account.<ref>https://thefederalist.com/2022/03/04/after-banning-trump-for-denouncing-violence-twitter-lets-putin-keep-his-account/</ref>

A baptized Russian Orthodox [[Christian]] who quotes the [[Bible]],<ref>https://www.libertynation.com/why-vladimir-putin-quotes-the-bible/ (analyzing with skepticism Putin's quote of [[Scriptures]]).</ref> Putin leads the increasingly [[conservative]] Russia against the [[homosexual agenda]], [[transgenderism]], and towards the [[pro-life]] side. [[Abortion]] and other [[leftist]] values had virtually wiped out natural population growth in [[Soviet]] times, and left an indelible scar on [[culture]]. Liberals criticize Putin and [[Russia]] because they disagree with him on social issues. [[Obama]] even refused to attend the Winter Olympic games held in Russia in 2014. Putin has also criticized liberal values as "against nature" and out of touch with a more traditional population.<ref>Multiple references:
*Isachenkov, Vladimir (June 29, 2019). [https://www.apnews.com/401b6cfd5b9c4a619851196410bc5814 Putin says liberalism ‘eating itself,’ migrant influx wrong]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*Calicchio, Dom (June 28, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/world/putin-liberal-values-obsolete-people-in-west-prefer-traditional-values Putin: Liberal values ‘obsolete,’ people in West prefer ‘traditional’ values]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*[https://in.reuters.com/article/russia-putin-europe-values/russias-putin-says-liberal-values-are-obsolete-idINKCN1TS2VB Russia's Putin says liberal values are obsolete - FT]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48795764 Putin: Russian president says liberalism 'obsolete']. ''BBC News''. June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*[https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-tells-ft-the-liberal-idea-has-become-obsolete-/30026237.html Putin Tells FT: 'The Liberal Idea Has Become Obsolete']. ''Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.</ref>

Putin may privately seek to issue a new era of [[Orthodox Christian|Orthodox]] [[Christendom]] with [[Moscow]] as the Third Rome. Under this view, Moscow would succeed [[Constantinople]] as the center of Orthodoxy after nearly 1700 years.

Putin has many controversial statements on [[Communism]] and has a good attitude toward the [[Muslim]] minorities living in the Russian Federation. [[Alexander Dugin]] argues:<ref>http://www.aspeninstitute.it/aspenia-online/article/russian-conservative-view-putin-interview-alexander-dugin</ref>
{{Cquote|If we consider the situation in Russia more closely, we will discover that almost all that is said in the West about Putin is wrong. It is a complete caricature. The most important criticism of Putin inside Russia is not from the liberals. Liberals represent the smallest part of the critics. They are absolutely marginal… So the West is absolutely wrong in thinking that there is this big liberal opposition to Putin that is artificially kept down. The real opposition to Putin is growing completely on the other side of Russian society. It is growing discontent with "lunar" Putin, against the Putin who is surrounded by liberals. All the government is completely not only corrupt, it consists of pro-Western liberals. Nothing has changed after the last election.}}

[[Forbes]] ranked Putin as the most powerful man in the world as of December 2016, while Obama was ranked #48. Putin gains popularity every time he challenges the U.S. or Europe, or sends troops into Georgia.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/datablog/2015/jul/23/vladimir-putins-approval-rating-at-record-levels</ref> Putin's Russia is an authoritarian system, with restricted capitalism, a rubber stamp parliament, compliant media, imprisoned or exiled oligarchs, harassed NGOs, marginalized pro-Western democratic parties, and a foreign policy based on confronting [[Western]] hypocrisy, double standards, and cultural decadence, all based on money from oil and gas.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkaylan/2016/09/20/putin-brings-back-the-kgb-as-russia-moves-from-authoritarian-to-totalitarian/#48e4a416398a</ref><ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32860526]</ref>

In March 2018, Putin unveiled his revamped nuclear missile program, which was a response to the NATO challenge.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-01/putin-calls-for-raising-living-standards-in-annual-address Putin Shows Off New Nuclear Weapons, Warns West to ‘Listen’]</ref> In 2021, American socialist leader [[Joe Biden]] colluded with Putin to raise gasoline prices and home heating bills.<ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/18/bidens-record-spending-will-only-add-fuel-inflatio/</ref>

Putin has become the brunt of much hatred and snarling in [[the West]], which typically is responded to with the enjoinder, "The 80s are calling. They want their foreign policy back".<ref>https://www.salon.com/2012/10/23/obama_the_80s_called_they_want_their_foreign_policy_back/</ref> Putin is known for his quick-witted sense of humor.
{|class="infobox" style="float:right; font-size:85%; width:1ex; line-height:17px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 50px" cellpadding="1"
|[[File:Zelensky transvestism.PNG|410px]]
|[[File:Putin and Zelensky.png|300px]]
|-
|colspan="3"|<hr/>(Second from left) Actor, puppet, cocaine addict and [[commander-in-chief]] of Ukrainian armed forces [[Volodymyr Zelensky]], chest exposed, tight leather pants, wearing high heels depicted as the "modern [[Churchill]]" in Western [[psyops]];<ref>[https://medium.com/prismnpen/ukrainian-presidents-queer-parody-riles-american-evangelicals-66b41821b961 ''Prism and Pen''.]</ref> (right) President Vladimir Putin receives intelligence briefing on the person, character, and business connections of Volodymyr Zelensky.
|}
==Background==
Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952. According to a made-for-television documentary entitled, ''The second baptism of Rus'', Putin told a personal story how his mother had him secretly baptized in the Russian Orthodox church as his father, who was a member of the Communist Party organization in the factory where he worked, would have faced serious problems.<ref>https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2013/07/23/putin-christened-in-secret-from-his-father-a26057</ref> Putin was a [[judo]] champion in his youth.<ref>http://nypost.com/2013/11/13/vladimir-putin-is-tougher-than-chuck-norris/</ref> He was educated in law and economics at Leningrad State University before being assigned to work in the [[KGB]].<ref>[http://en.putin.kremlin.ru/ Webpage of Vladimir Putin]</ref> After five years in [[East Germany]], he took up various political positions before becoming [[prime minister]] in 1999.
[[File:Vladtheimpaler.jpg|thumb|200px|Putin at an conference]]
He was married to Lyudmila Putina, a former stewardess with Aeroflot, from July 28, 1983, until 2014, when the two divorced. They have two daughters.

The legend of Putin began the night of the [[Fall of the Wall]] in Germany. Putin was stationed in the consulate in [[Dresden]]. A mob had raided the [[East German]] [[Stasi]] headquarters and moved on to the Soviet consulate. In the chaos, communication with [[Moscow]] was cut off. Putin, acting alone without instructions and armed only with a pistol, stared down the mob and told them if they took one more step, they would be shot. The mob retreated and returned to continue pillaging the Stasi headquarters.

As the 1990s progressed, Western [[capital]] and corporate raiders flooded into Russia to buy up Soviet assets at bargain basement prices. Prior to the collapse, Soviet enterprises did not operate on the profit motive and received government subsidies, keeping outmoded factories and industries alive while operating at a loss to keep workers employed. When the subsidies and transfers of wealth perished with the Soviet government, the country fell into a deep recession. People were not very enamored toward the transition to capitalism as foreign investors took control of the nation's economy.<ref>In a review of ''New York Times'' reporter Anne Williamson's book, ''Contagion: The Betrayal of Liberty -- Russia and the United States in the 1990s'', Paul Likoudis writes: "According to the [[socialist]] theoreticians at [[Harvard]], Russia needed to be brought into the [[New World Order]] in a hurry; and what better way to do it than [Jeffrey] Sachs' "shock therapy" -- a plan that empowered the degenerate, third-generation descendants of the original [[Bolshevik]]s by assigning them the deeds of Russia's mightiest state-owned industries -- including the giant gas, oil, electrical, and telecommunications industries, the world's largest paper, iron, and steel factories, the world's richest gold, silver, diamond, and platinum mines, automobile and airplane factories, etc. -- who, in turn, sold some of their shares of the properties to Westerners for a song, and pocketed the cash, while retaining control of the companies.

These third-generation Bolsheviks -- led by former [[Pravda]] hack Yegor Gaidar, grandson of a Bolshevik who achieved prominence as the [[Young mass murders|teenage mass murderer]] of [[White Army]] officers, now heads the Moscow-based Institute for Economies in Transition -- became instant millionaires (or billionaires) and left the Russian workers virtual slaves of them and their new foreign investors." [https://www.blacklistednews.com/HOW_CLINTON_AND_COMPANY_AND_THE_BANKERS_PLUNDERED_RUSSIA_IN_THE_%2790S/48111/0/38/38/Y/M.html HOW CLINTON AND COMPANY AND THE BANKERS PLUNDERED RUSSIA IN THE '90s], Paul Likoudis, January 2, 2016 </ref> As in the Dresden incident, Putin's reputation of instinctively standing up to foreign intruders in defense of his country propelled his political rise.

===Domestic policy===
A [[Christian]] himself, Putin governs a nation that is rapidly becoming more Christian and more [[conservative]], and his snubbing of [[liberal]] [[Obama]] in May 2012 suggests that Putin is well aware of how conservative his country is becoming. On social issues and taxation, Russia under Putin is more conservative today than the [[Western Europe]].

In terms of achievements, Putin has successfully opposed the [[homosexual agenda]] and has supported [[pro-life]] reforms. He has also stabilized the Russian economy and restored Russia's national pride, largely by politically exploiting the financial windfall of Europe's need for Russian oil and gas. Russians were enthusiastic that he ended the social chaos that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent pell-mell privatization of the state-owned economy. Many Russians have been mesmerized by the new glitter of Moscow and the restored glamour of St. Petersburg. Russia's revived self-pride follows the humiliation of the chaos after 1991 and the incompetence of his predecessor [[Boris Yeltsin]]. Russians have a long history of authoritarian governments and a strong distaste for anarchy. They have little experience with freedom. The Russian mafia, which is more sophisticated than its counterparts elsewhere, controls more than 40 percent of the total economy. Their control is thought to be even greater in certain areas, such as banking, real estate, and consumer markets.<ref>[http://www.worldbank.org/html/prddr/trans/janfeb97/art4.htm Louise I. Shelley, ''The Price Tag of Russia's Organized Crime'']</ref> In November 2014, Putin started allowing his citizens to own concealed firearms for self-defense, but under certain restrictions.<ref>https://www.rt.com/news/206703-russia-guns-self-defense/</ref> Russia under Putin made it illegal for foreigners without a permit to preach, and banned cults that are harmful to families (Jehovah's Witnesses and Scientology engage in family shunning while Falun Gong, whose founder lives in a luxurious property, prevents family members from seeking medical treatment).<ref>http://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2197s</ref> Not having a permit is why a Baptist pastor got heavily fined.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/russia-persecution-christians-intensifies-putin-cant-be-trusted-experts-warn-184255/</ref> Like many parts of Europe, blasphemy against the church is also illegal.<ref>http://www.aif.ru/society/law/delo_est_a_boga_net_za_chto_na_samom_dele_sudyat_viktora_krasnova?fbclid=IwAR2bypeUccKIaU4-J0V-Ybe4pl0EsUK32g4EaItpB8pdJ_ZQ5SYS37lh7dU</ref><ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/03/russian-atheist-faces-year-in-jail-for-denying-existence-of-god-during-webchat</ref>

In May 2019, Putin signed a bill into law ordering the creation of "a national internet network that would be able to operate independently from the rest of the world."<ref>Gstalter, Morgan (May 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/policy/international/441751-putin-signs-controversial-internet-law Putin signs controversial internet law]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 2, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/05/02/putin-signs-sovereign-internet-law-expands-government-control/ Putin Signs ‘Sovereign Internet’ Law, Expands Government Control]</ref> Russia began testing this network.<ref>Bonn, Tess (December 26, 2019). [https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/475984-russia-successfully-tests-country-wide-alternative-to-global Russia successfully tests country-wide alternative to global internet]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved December 26, 2019.</ref>

===Political career===
[[File:V Putin.jpg|thumb|200px]]
In the Yeltsin years during the transition to capitalism, corrupt foreign and domestic [[oligarch]]s took control of the country. Putin's rise to power as a [[populist]] was by taxing and driving out corrupt foreign oligarchs whom the public viewed as looting the country, and throwing in jail corrupt domestic oligarchs as tax cheats. The oligarchs were his political enemies. Putin's success as a leader in Russia came about by reigning in the power of oligarchs. He allowed them to run the Russian economy provided that they stay out of politics, unlike Western so-called "democracies". Contrary to [[Western]] and [[CIA]] propaganda, Putin is not a friend of or controlled by oligarchs; rather, the oligarchs bow to his instructions and demands.

Putin is mainly backed by the [[United Russia]] (''Единая Россия'') party, which currently holds a majority in the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, known as the ''Duma''. As a centrist party, it usually reflects the political views of Putin, which are that of authoritarian statism and [[nationalism]]. On March 14, 2004, he was elected to a second term as president with 71% of the vote. Barred from a third consecutive term by the Russian constitution, Putin ceded the presidency to [[Dmitry Medvedev]] on May 7, 2008, and became Prime Minister, at the time-sharing power with the more moderate Medvedev. Medvedev did not run for a second term, and, as a result, Putin was re-elected in 2012. Putin was again re-elected in 2018, facing little real opposition.

After his 2018 victory, Putin's approval ratings fell significantly due to public disapproval of some of his domestic policies.<ref>Bennetts, Marc (August 12, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/12/vladimir-putin-faces-russia-democracy-movement-dec/ Putin's political milestone marred by plummeting polls, massive protests]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved August 12, 2019.</ref>

==Political views==
Putin has been accused of employing the United States [[Democratic party]] tactic of illegal surveillance, harassment, investigation, arrest, and jailing political opponents and dissidents, ostensibly as agents of a foreign power or domestic terrorists.

Learning from the mistakes of USSR in the Eastern Bloc, he made clear that taking countries against their right to self-determination is counterproductive and drains resources.<ref>https://youtu.be/DHIxry8WfyA</ref>

===Relations with NATO===
In an interview with David Frost broadcast on the [[BBC]] on March 13, 2000, Putin expressed his desire to see Russia join NATO:<ref>https://www.gazeta.ru/2001/02/28/putin_i_bbc.shtml</ref>
[[File:Putin unkown soldier.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Putin lays a wreath a the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the anniversary of the German invasion of the Soviet Union.]]
{{quotebox-float|'''Frost: Tell me about your views on NATO, if you would. Do you see NATO as a potential partner, or rival, or an enemy?'''

'''Putin:''' Russia is a part of European culture. I simply cannot see my country isolated from Europe, from what we often describe as the civilized world. That is why it is hard for me to regard NATO as an enemy. I think that such a perception has nothing good in store for Russia and the rest of the world. ...

We strive for equal cooperation, partnership, we believe that it is possible to speak even about higher levels of integration with NATO. But only, I repeat, if Russia is an equal partner. As you know, we constantly express our negative attitude to NATO's expansion to the East. ...

'''Frost: Is it possible that Russia will ever join NATO?'''

'''Putin:''' Why not? I do not rule out such a possibility. I repeat, on condition that Russia's interests are going to be taken into account, if Russia becomes a full-fledged partner. I want to specially emphasize this. ...

When we say that we object to NATO's expansion to the East, we are not expressing any special ambitions of our own, ambitions in respect of some regions of the world. ... By the way, we have never declared any part of the world a zone of our national interests. Personally, I prefer to speak about strategic partnership. The zone of strategic interests of any particular region means first of all the interests of the people who live in that region. ...}}
Within hours after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to call President [[George W. Bush]] and offer sympathy and support for what became the first invocation of NATO Article V, "an attack against one is an attack against all."<ref>https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/10/ar911.russia.putin/index.html</ref> Putin announced a five-point plan to support the [[war on terror]], pledging that the Russian government would (1) share intelligence with their American counterparts, (2) open Russian airspace for flights providing humanitarian assistance (3) cooperate with Russia's Central Asian allies in [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]] to provide similar kinds of airspace access to American flights, (4) participate in international search and rescue efforts, and (5) increase direct assistance -humanitarian as well as military assistance -- to the Afghan Northern Alliance. The intelligence Putin shared, including data that helped American forces find their way around [[Kabul]] and logistical information about Afghanistan’s topography and caves, contributed to the success of operation and rout of the Taliban. Two weeks after the attacks, Putin was invited to make a speech to a Special Session of the Bundestag, the first ever by a Russian head of state to the German parliament.<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/40168</ref> Among the numerous subjects Putin addressed in fluent German was peace and stability in the common European home:
{{quotebox-float|"But what are we lacking today for cooperation to be efficient?

In spite of all the positive achievements of the past decades, we have not yet developed an efficient mechanism for working together.

The coordinating agencies set up so far do not offer Russia real opportunities for taking part in drafting and taking decision. Today decisions are often taken, in principle, without our participation, and we are only urged afterwards to support such decisions. After that they talk again about loyalty to NATO. They even say that such decisions cannot be implemented without Russia. Let us ask ourselves: is this normal? Is this true partnership?

Yes, the assertion of [[democratic]] principles in international relations, the ability to find a correct decision and readiness for compromise are a difficult thing. But then, it was the Europeans who were the first to understand how important it is to look for consensus over and above national egoism. We agree with that! All these are good ideas. However, the quality of decisions that are taken, their efficiency and, ultimately, European and international security in general depend on the extent to which we succeed today in translating these obvious principles into practical politics.

It seemed just recently that a truly common home would shortly rise on the continent, a home in which the Europeans would not be divided into eastern or western, northern or southern. However, these divides will remain, primarily because we have never fully shed many of the Cold War stereotypes and cliches.

Today we must say once and for all: the Cold War is done with! We have entered a new stage of development. We understand that without a modern, sound and sustainable security architecture we will never be able to create an atmosphere of trust on the continent, and without that atmosphere of trust there can be no united Greater Europe! Today we must say that we renounce our stereotypes and ambitions and from now on will jointly work for the security of the people of Europe and the world as a whole.}}
In 2004 the Baltic states - [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], and [[Estonia]] joined NATO in violation of assurances made to Russian leaders when German Unification occurred. The provocative action created for the first time a common border between the Russian Federation and a NATO state. Three years later, at the Munich Security Conference, Putin declared, “We have the right to ask: against whom is this [NATO] expansion intended? And what happened to the assurances our western partners made after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those declarations today? No one even remembers them.”<ref>https://aldeilis.net/english/putins-historical-speech-munich-conference-security-policy-2007/</ref> In 2008 NATO said Ukraine and Georgia would become members. Four other [[Eastern Europe]]an states joined NATO in 2009.

In the face of the NATO onslaught, Putin repeatedly warned the West with the refrain of a made popular by [[Yulia Chicherina]] during the ongoing NATO-funded [[Donbas war]],<ref>https://youtu.be/HdVkbCGEyT8</ref> "we have nowhere to retreat."<ref>https://youtu.be/i0YqXRPHisE</ref>

===Relations with the EU===
[[File:Putin ate my homework.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Anti-Putin Russophobia in the West, 2022.]]
In 2014 Putin founded the [[Eurasian Economic Union]] to counter [[European Union]] meddling in [[Eastern Europe]]an nation's affairs.

After [[Crimea]] was returned to Russia, the European Union imposed sanctions against Putin and the Russian government.<ref>http://rt.com/business/168192-eu-sanctions-crimea-deadlock/</ref>

The relations within the EU are different and divided, it is mainly the following countries advocating namely a critical attitude towards the Russian government: the Baltic states ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]]) [[Poland]], [[Sweden]], [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]],<ref>http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russian-sanctions-debate-divides-eu/</ref><ref>https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4464/eu-russia</ref>
while the following countries have a less hostile attitude or want to maintain a better relationship: [[Hungary]], [[Italy]] and [[Czech Republic]].

Also, multiple nationalist parties in the EU appreciate Putin's policies against the Leftist liberal dominance in Europe, like [[Marine Le Pen]]'s [[French National Front|National Front]].

Despite EU sanctions, Russia under cooperation between Putin and [[German]] Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] continued expanding economically into Western Europe.<ref>Strobel, Warren P. (March 11, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-economic-clout-in-europe-grows-despite-sanctions-study-says-11552333028 Russia’s Economic Clout in Europe Grows Despite Sanctions, Study Says]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.</ref>

===Relations under George W. Bush===
Initially relations between [[George W. Bush]] and Putin were good, with Putin lending support to Bush's war on global terror. Putin was restrained from giving much assistance outside the Russian Federation, being pre-occupied with the [[Islamist]] movements waging [[jihad]] inside his own borders.

In Bush's late second term, Putin was concerned about jihadist infiltration from [[Turkey]] and [[Syria]] through the [[Republic of Georgia]], and intervened. Former members of the [[Warsaw Pact]], who were more supportive of the war on terror than even the US population, then asked for deployment of missile defense systems on their territories, which the [[Bush administration]] was inclined to favor as a reward for their help. Russia considered missile defense deployment on their borders overt acts of hostility. Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, in competition to outdo each other, condemned George W. Bush and [[Condoleezza Rice]] by sidling up to the Russians and Islamists whom the [[Democrat]]s portrayed as oppressed victims of a [[globalism|global]] [[neocon]] [[conspiracy]].

===Relations under Barack Obama===
[[File:Targeted sanctions.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Targetted Sanctions'', from a Moscow art exhibition.]]
President [[Barack Obama]] and Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] initially cozied up to Putin, charging the Bush administration was intent on reigniting the [[Cold War]]. However once the [[Rosatom-Uranium One deal]] was completed and the [[Clinton Foundation]] pocketed millions of dollars from Putin cronies in donations and speaking fees, relations began to sour as the Obama administration could no longer ignore geopolitical realities. Putin had protested the Obama administrations illegal drone strikes, and the administration placed [[Magnitsky Act|sanctions on Russian leaders]] ostensibly in retaliation for the Crimean referendum.<ref>https://youtu.be/I-9aD45qxbE</ref>

President Obama's decision to move an anti-missile defense system to [[Romania]] during the [[2016 US Presidential election]] only heightened tensions. Putin, who had repeatedly assailed the antimissile system as a grave danger to Russia's security, called Obama's decision dangerous. This coupled with Obama's implementation of sanctions rather than honor the [[American foreign policy#1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances|1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]] negotiated by the [[Clinton administration]], displaying it as an empty promise to guarantee Ukrainian independence, only further exposed the befuddlement and inability of the Obama administration to stand by US commitments and the weaknesses of NATO.

In September 2013, Putin gave a speech stating the need to strengthen Russian culture with traditional values and the Orthodox Christian church. Also, he condemned Western nations and their godless pursuit of [[political correctness]] and [[homosexuality]].<ref>[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/cdedfd64-214f-11e3-a92a-00144feab7de.html#axzz2jdyir54U Putin urges Russians to return to values of religion, FT.com, September 19, 2013]</ref>

In early September 2013, Putin expressly observed that liberal [[John Kerry]] is a liar.

====Obama/Biden Maidan coup====
{{See also|Maidan coup}}
[[File:Revolution of Dignity.PNG|left|300px|thumb|Russian victims of the Obama-backed "[[Revolution of Dignity]]."<ref>https://archive.fo/1XFO5</ref>]]
Putin is seen as an antagonist by [[liberal]]s in the West, who are angry about their inability to push the [[homosexual agenda]] and pro-[[abortion]] policies on Russia. Putin views NATO enlargement by absorbing former Soviet client states as a potential threat to the Russian Federation. Putin has proposed a policy of "Findlandization", i.e., making permanently neutral the Ukraine and Georgia and not incorporating them into NATO under the US's Partners for Peace program. Putin's alleged rigged election system, nuclear energy contracts and military alliance with Iran have heightened tensions. According to [[mainstream media]], the decline of [[human rights]] in Russia has been dramatic; for example, Russian riot police beat a number of protesters and journalists at an anti-Putin rally at Pushkin Square in Moscow,<ref>''The Economist'', April 21, 2007</ref> and Putin rigged national elections for his party <ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL03585550._CH_.2400</ref>

Putin has even exercised power over the Russian supreme court. Justice Vladimir Yaroslavtsev was forced to resign after warning that Russian security agencies now control the country as they did in Soviet times and expressing alarm over their lack of accountability. Justice Anatoly Kononov was likewise forced out after defending Yaroslavtsev.<ref>[http://www.robertamsterdam.com/2009/12/are_you_an_independent_russian_judge_youre_fired.htm ''Are You An Independent Russian Judge? You're Fired'', RobertAmsterdam.com]</ref>

Many who have reported or protested such things have found themselves being repressed - or killed.<ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/putins_own_worst_enemy.html Kim Zigfeld, ''Putin's Own Worst Enemy''] American Thinker, December 08, 2009</ref><ref>http://larussophobe.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/editorial-another-russian-journalist-takes-the-putin-plunge</ref> Journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]], an outspoken critic of Putin, was assassinated in 2006,<ref>http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1819666.ece</ref> and it is widely believed that the Russian government had some involvement in this death. There were 13 journalists killed in contract-style slayings during Vladimir Putin's eight-year presidency.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438381,00.html Russian Lawyer in Slain Journalist Case Says She, Family Poisoned] AP, October 15, 2008</ref>

Despite these negatives – or perhaps because of the strong hand they reveal – Putin remains popular in Russia.<ref>http://www.levada.ru/prezident.html Putin's Approval Ratings</ref> Since coming to power, Putin has expanded Russia's economy and reduced inflation. The majority of Russians are relatively uninterested in politics outside of issues affecting their personal prosperity,<ref>''The Economist'', April 21, 2007</ref> and journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]] argued that the Russian people, as a whole, have been willing to tolerate violence in the name of "comfort and peace and quiet".<ref>Politkovskaya, Anna. Putin's Russia. London: Harvill Press, 2004</ref>

===Relations under Donald Trump===

President [[Donald Trump]] accused Putin of taking [[Crimea]] by force and asked whether Obama was too soft on Russia.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-latest-tweet-accuse-crimea-obama-too-soft-distance-campaign-team-white-house-a7581511.html Donald Trump accuses Russia of taking Crimea by force in attempt to distance himself from campaign allegations]</ref> In March 2017 the US department of state strongly condemned the arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/26/hundreds-arrested-mass-protests-against-vladimir-putins-government/ Washington condemns arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government]</ref> The US Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson]] said that US sanctions against Russia will remain in place until Moscow "reverses the actions" it has taken in Ukraine.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/31/politics/rex-tillerson-russia-ukraine/ Tillerson: US to maintain Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia until Crimea is returned]</ref>

In response to the April, 4 chemical attack on Khan Shaykhun in [[Syria]], President Trump launched 59-Tomahawk rockets on a Syrian Air base nearby, tensions led up with Russia, Syria's ally, Putin has called that the US attack was an "illegal act of aggression",<ref>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4389332/Russia-calls-airstrikes-Syria-act-aggression.html</ref> and answered this attack by sending a frigate to the military base in Syria.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/world/middleeast/russia-iran-us-strikes-syria.html?_r=0</ref> In April 2017 Putin explained that the US-Russia relations have gotten worse under Trump, contrary to narratives put out by the liberal mainstream media that Trump is too "soft" to Putin and is Putin's 'puppet' .<ref>http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/228064</ref>

In December 2017 Putin warned President Trump because of his decision to move the US embassy from [[Tel Aviv]] to [[Jerusalem]] and stated that he was "deeply concerned".<ref>[https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239041 Putin 'deeply concerned' by Trump's Jerusalem move]. ''IsraelNationalNews''. December 18, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2018.</ref> Putin also opposed Trump's withdrawal from the [[Iran nuclear deal]] and told that Russia would continue to honor its obligations under this deal.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/putin-criticizes-u-s-over-iran-deal-at-summit-with-china-1.6158932 Putin Criticizes Trump Over Iran Nuclear Deal]. ''Haaretz''. June 10, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.</ref>

In March 2018, Russian Propaganda video was released showing how a new missile program could be used to attack America. In the video, the state of [[Florida]] was specifically targeted.<ref>[http://fortune.com/2018/03/01/putin-russia-nuclear-threat-florida-mar-a-lago/ Why Russia Would Specifically Choose to Threaten Florida With a Nuclear Blast]</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43248794 Why would Putin want to nuke Florida?]</ref>

===Relations with Joe Biden===
{{See also|Biden/Harris regime foreign policy#Ukraine}}
[[File:Joe Biden at CFR meeting 2018 2.jpeg|right|300px|thumb|The [[Biden family]] is on the payroll of the Ukrainian firm [[Burisma]], while many Ukrainian operatives in the U.S.<ref>e.g. [[Alexandra Chalupa]] and [[Alexander Vindman]]</ref> and abroad are inimically hostile toward Russia.]]
As vice-president in 2011, Putin snubbed [[Joe Biden]] in a face-to-face meeting. Sitting across a conference table Putin, Biden attempted to lecture Putin. Biden said, "I’ve been around a long time. The first time I was here…” and in mid-sentence his microphone was cut off,<ref>https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/10/remarks-vice-president-joe-biden-and-russian-prime-minister-vladimir-put</ref> the lights for the TV cameras went off, and the press was told to leave. The press exited quickly and quietly. Videocameras were disassembled from tripods and still photographers stopped shooting. Portable lights came down from retractable poles. No one spoke and no one lingered. Putin baited Biden, pulled the plug, stole Biden's audience, and rendered him speechless. Putin and the Russian delegation sat as their American counterparts realized Biden's big moment had been stolen right out from under him. Putin had neither fear nor respect for Biden, and Biden was humiliated.<ref>https://thenationalpulse.com/analysis/putin-humiliated-biden-in-moscow-meeting/</ref>

In 2014 Hunter Biden colluded with and received $3.5 million from [[Elena Baturina]], the richest woman in Russia and widow of former Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov as payment to establish an American bank account for her.<ref>https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missionquestfpb/shock-man-who-had-hunter-biden-s-laptop-suggests-t-t10669-s2420.html</ref> In late 2019 Baturina was declared a fugitive from Russian justice.<ref>https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-court-declares-late-moscow-mayor-s-widow-wanted-after-failure-to-appear/30348065.html</ref>

Biden cozied up to Vladimir Putin when he rescinded the Trump-era opposition to the [[Nord Stream II]] pipeline.<ref>https://dennismichaellynch.com/daily-newsletter/</ref> The Russian project is designed to ship gas and oil directly from Russia to [[Germany]] under the [[Baltic Sea]]. Russia has attempted to pressure Ukraine numerous time since the break-up of the Soviet Union to abandon its bid to join [[NATO]] by cutting off oil and gas supplies. In doing so, Russia inadvertently also cuts off supplies to Germany, a very rich and large customer. The Nordtream pipeline is intended to counter this collateral effect, while pressuring Ukraine, [[Poland]] and [[Hungary]] to remain in the Russian orbit. The pipeline itself is a massive scandal in Germany, with for [[Democratic Socialist]] [[Gerhard Schroeder]] chancellor heading the Nordstram pipeline company and a major stockholders.<ref>https://www.politico.eu/article/opinion-schroders-russian-sell-out/</ref>

''[[Newsweek]]'' reported three weeks after [[Operation Denazification]] in Ukraine began that Putin's Approval Ratings in Russia rose from 60% before the operation to 71%.<ref>https://www.newsweek.com/vladimir-putin-approval-rating-poll-latest-levada-russia-1687543</ref>

{{Anchor|Empire of Lies}}
====Empire of Lies speech====

On February 24, 2022 Putin delivered an anti-[[woke]] speech condemning the United States promotion, both domestically and among its allies, [[values]] that are "contrary to human nature":
[[File:Putin and Zelensky.png|right|300px|thumb|Putin's "My Pet Goat" moment: Putin being briefed on [[Volodoymr Zelensky]]'s [[transvestism]] and wearing high heels.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/f1Ll6yw172sg/</ref>]]
{{quotebox-float|"US politicians, political scientists and journalists write and say that a veritable “empire of lies” has been created inside the United States in recent years. It is hard to disagree with this – it is really so. But one should not be modest about it: the United States is still a great country and a system-forming power. All its satellites not only humbly and obediently say 'yes' to, and parrot it at the slightest pretext, but also imitate its behavior and enthusiastically accept the rules it is offering them. Therefore, one can say with good reason and confidence that the whole so-called [[Western bloc]] formed by the United States in its own image and likeness is, in its entirety, the very same “empire of lies.”

As for our country, after the disintegration of the USSR, given the entire unprecedented [[glasnost|openness]] of the new, modern Russia, its readiness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners, and its practically unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to put the final squeeze on us, finish us off, and utterly destroy us. This is how it was in the 1990s and the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West was actively supporting separatism and gangs of [[mercenaries]] in southern Russia. What victims, what losses we had to sustain, and [[Russia#Chechen_wars|what trials we had to go through]] at that time before we broke the back of international terrorism in the [[Caucasus]]! We remember this and will never forget.<ref>Putin is speaking of such events as the [[Beslan massacre]]</ref>

Properly speaking, the attempts to use us in their own interests never ceased until quite recently: they sought to destroy our [[traditional values]] and force on us their [[Liberalism|false values]] that would erode us, our people from within, the attitudes they have been aggressively imposing on their countries, attitudes that are directly leading to degradation and degeneration, because they are contrary to [[human nature]]. This is not going to happen. No one has ever succeeded in doing this, nor will they succeed now."<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

====Donbas war====
[[File:Azov Battalion.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Putin opposes U.S. and NATO-backed Nazis who led the Maidan coup and have killed thousands of people since 2014.]]
{{See also|Donbas war}}

====Responsibility to protect, preventative action, and collective self-defense====
{{See also|Russia-Ukraine war}}
Vladimir Putin set forth a claim under the doctrine of 'anticipatory collective self-defense' which was devised originally by the [[Clinton administration]] and NATO in regard to the 1998 [[Kosovo]] conflict,<ref>https://youtu.be/rsSB_2RShBQ</ref> as it applies to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.<ref> https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/29/russia-ukraine-the-law-of-war-crime-of-aggression/</ref> The unilateral declarations of independence by the Donbas republics are completely legal and precedented by [[the West]]'s successful demands for Kosovo to be recognized as independent from [[Serbia]], and adjudicated as such by the International Courts.<ref>https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/141</ref>

The Organization of World Peace reported in 2021, “according to Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Decree no. 117/2021, Ukraine has committed to putting all options on the table to taking back control over the Russian annexed Crimea region. Signed on March 24th, President Zelensky has committed the country to pursue strategies that . . . ‘will prepare and implement measures to ensure the de-occupation and reintegration of the peninsula.’”<ref>https://theowp.org/ukraine-declares-all-options-possible-even-war-to-retake-crimea-from-russia/</ref> Given that the residents of Crimea, most of whom are ethnic Russians, are quite happy with the current state of affairs under Russian governance – this, according to a 2020 ''[[Washington Post]]'' report – Zelensky’s threat in this regard was not only a threat against Russia itself but was also a threat of potentially massive bloodshed against a people who do not want to go back to Ukraine.<ref>https://archive.ph/5s7Cd</ref> The Donbas war represents a much more compelling case for justifying Russian intervention under the ''Responsibility to Protect'' (R2P) doctrine which has been advocated by such Western ‘humanitarians’ as [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Samantha Power]], and [[Susan Rice]], and which was relied upon to justify the NATO interventions in countries like the former [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Libya]].

In 1998, Kosovo was not a member of the United Nations, so the right of collective self-defense of member states was challenged. Kosovo was forcibly severed from a member state, [[Serbia]], by NATO and given given legal status later. Residents of Kosovo never voted by referendum to declare independence from Serbia. By established international precedents, in 2014 the residents of the [[Donetsk Republic]], the [[Lugansk Republic]], and [[Crimea]] voted to separate from [[Ukraine]]. The Russian State Duma recognized the decision of the voters and change in international borders, annexed Crimea and in 2022 signed collective security agreements with the Donetsk and Lugansk republics.

On February 24, 2022 Vladimir Putin addressed the nation and made clear the objective of the [[Special Military Operation]] in Ukraine was not [[regime change]]:
{{quotebox-float|"The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and [[genocide]] perpetrated by the Kiev regime. To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation. It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force."<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

=== Views on abortion ===
Putin rejects any constitutional right to [[abortion]], as exists in the [[United States]], but is not ready to ban abortion from [[Russia]] either. Instead, Putin has supported and enforced [[pro-life]] laws in Russian which would be invalidated by [[pro-abortion]] courts in the United States. In 2017, he said that he will allow societal (including church) views to guide him on the issue:<ref>[http://fortune.com/2017/12/14/vladimir-putin-russia-abortion-pro-choice-press-conference/ An article biased in favor of [[abortion]] but useful for its quotations]</ref>

:“In the modern world, the decision is up to the woman herself,” Putin said, and indicated that additional pro-life proposals “must be careful, considered and based on the general mood in society and the moral and ethical norms that have developed in society.”

Putin's "the decision" is an ambiguous phrase that could include the decision to have the pregnancy in the first place. Also, Putin is very pro-[[Russia]] and if thinks abortion is lowering the birth rate in a harmful way, then he could abolish it based on national interests.

===Views on wokism===
[[File:Putin popularity.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Vladimir Putin's Popularity rating rose to 83% during the Russia-Ukraine war.<ref>https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news-2022-03-30/card/putin-s-approval-rating-jumps-after-invasion-poll-shows-fm8f4uSdiVfTxORQOE0v</ref>]]
Putin told the Valdai Club in October 2021,<ref>https://www.rt.com/russia/538121-putin-children-swap-gender-monstrous/</ref>
{{quotebox-float|"We see with bemusement the process unfolding in countries that have grown accustomed to viewing themselves as the flagships of [[Progressive|progress]]. Of course it's none of our business what is happening - the social and cultural shocks that are happening in some Western countries. Some believe that aggressive blotting out of whole pages of your own history, and the requirement to renounce the traditional interpretation of such basic values as mother, father, family, and the distinction between sexes are a milestone towards a renewal of society...we have a different point of view. We believe, at least the overwhelming majority of Russian society, that we need to rely on our own spiritual values and our historical traditions.

On the culture of our multi-ethnic nation, the proponents of so-called 'social progress' believe that they are bringing a new consciousness to humanity. Something that is [[political correctness|more correct]]...The recipes they come up with are nothing new. Paradoxical as it may seem, but this is something we saw in Russia. It happened in our country before and after the [[October Revolution|1917 Revolution]]. The [[Bolshevik]]s followed the dogmas of [[Marx]] and [[Engels]]. And they also declared that they were going to change the traditional lifestyle, the political, the economic lifestyle, as well as the very notion of [[morality]], the basic principles. Fully, healthy society they were trying to destroy, century-long values. Revisiting the relationship between people. They were encouraging informing on one's own beloved and families. It was hailed as "the March of Progress" and it was very [[Popular Front|popular across the world]]. And it was supported by many.

As we see it is happening right now. Incidentally, the Bolsheviks were absolutely intolerant of other opinions different from their own. I think this should remind you of something that is happening...it is with puzzlement that we see the practices Russia used to have, and that we left behind... The fight for equality and against discrimination turns into an aggressive dogmatism on the brink of absurdity. When great authors of the past such as [[Shakespeare]] are no longer taught in
schools and universities because they did not understand the importance of gender or race.

And [[Hollywood]]. There are leaflets reminding what you should do in the films - how many personalities and actors you've got, what kind of color, what sex, and sometimes it's even stricter than what the Department of Propaganda of the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee did. And the fight against racism, which is a lofty goal, turns into [[cancel culture]] and reverse discrimination. Racism in reverse. It tears people apart. Whereas the true fighters for [[civil rights]], they were trying to eliminate those differences....[[Martin Luther King]] said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." That is a true value. ...in Russia, most of our Republics simply do not care what skin color you have. He or she, that's not that important, because each and every one of us is a human being. That's the most important thing.

The discussion about the rights of men and women has turned into a total phantasmagoria in a number of Western countries...Those who risk saying that men and women still exist, and that this is a biological fact, are virtually ostracized...And this is not new...In the 1920s, Soviet culture-warriors invented a so-called ‘[[newspeak]]’, believing that in this way they would create a new sense of consciousness and redefine people’s values...This is not to mention things that are simply monstrous, like when children are taught from an early age that a boy can easily become a girl and vice versa...In fact, they are indoctrinating them into the alleged choices that are supposedly available to everyone – removing parents from the equation and forcing the child to make decisions that can ruin their lives...This is borderline crime against humanity - all under the guise of "progress."<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6sIZ8-C1vw</ref>}}

=== Views on communism and the Soviet Union ===
[[File:Solzhenitsyn and Putin.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Russian President Vladimir Putin presents [[human rights]] activist [[Alexander Solzhenitsyn]] with an award. Solzhenitsyn set in motion the movement that toppled Soviet communism.]]
Putin famously said, "Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain."<ref>https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/vladimir_putin_452527</ref>

Putin has before called the [[Bolshevik]]s traitors for Russia's defeat in the First World War.<ref>https://www.rt.com/politics/putin-accuses-bolsheviks-treason-877/</ref> However, he has also expressed that "[he] liked Communist and socialist ideas very much and [he] like[s] them still." and compared the Soviet code of conduct to the [[Bible]].<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/russias-putin-says-he-always-liked-communist-socialist-ideas-419289</ref><ref>https://pjmedia.com/faith/tyler-o-neil/2018/01/17/putin-soviet-communism-is-very-similar-to-christianity-party-rules-are-a-bible-excerpt-n101328</ref> Putin also has compared communism with Christianity.<ref>Newman, Alex (January 16, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/28051-communism-very-similar-to-christianity-putin-claims Communism “Very Similar” to Christianity, Putin Claims]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 17, 2018.</ref> Putin has been accused by Western media of embracing the tactics of Soviet dictator [[Joseph Stalin]].<ref>https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-russia-stalin-model-20150611-story.html</ref> In addition, he implies in an interview with [[Larry King]] dated September 8, 2000 that his Christianity isn't actually sincere by stating in Russian that he "believes in the power of man" or "I believe in human beings." Though a few years later, his faith became more genuine.<ref>https://www.quora.com/Is-Vladimir-Putin-personally-religious</ref> Furthermore, around October 2017, he hosted the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students Communist event and gave a speech that strongly implied that he adhered to Communism.<ref>http://www.trevorloudon.com/2017/10/non-communist-putin-opens-major-international-communist-youth-festival/</ref><ref>http://www.trevorloudon.com/2017/07/russia-to-host-major-international-communist-youth-festival-on-putins-instructions/</ref>

Since passage of Sen. [[John McCain]]'s [[Magnitsky Act]], also known as the Russia sanctions bill which was signed into law by [[Barack Obama]] in an attempt to cripple the Russian Federation, Russia has been driven back into competition with the [[military-industrial complex]] It has provided arms and materiel to various communist groups, including [[Angola]], and has voiced a desire to reconnect with Latin America shortly before the FSLN regained power in Nicaragua and has supported [[Nicaragua]] via foreign aid, shipping tanks, and even posting a GLONASS tracking station on the Caribbean coast, alongside similar arming of North Korea.<ref>https://westernfreepress.com/is-vladimir-putin-a-communist/</ref><ref>https://www.trevorloudon.com/2017/12/is-vladimir-putin-a-communist/</ref> Putin is a close ally of the [[Venezuela]]'s Marxist Dictator [[Nicolás Maduro]] which he defends internationally.<ref>https://www.dw.com/es/la-alianza-estrat%C3%A9gica-de-maduro-y-putin/a-46618225</ref><ref>https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2019/06/06/vladimir-putin-volvio-a-respaldar-a-maduro-y-dijo-que-sus-asesores-militares-cumpliran-las-obligaciones-de-rusia-en-venezuela/</ref> He also indicated that he still keeps his KGB card while citing his contemporaries within the KGB had discarded theirs after the USSR's fall.<ref>https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/putin-his-communist-party-membership-card-i-still-keep-it-home</ref>

=== Views on Islam ===
In January 2018 Putin said that "[t]raditional Islam is an integral part of the Russian cultural code". He also vowed to support Islamic religious education.<ref>https://themoscowtimes.com/news/putin-calls-for-revival-of-islamic-education-in-russia-60276</ref>

Putin has openly endorsed the right of the Chechen people to cultural hegemony in the Chechen Federated Republic of the Russian Federation under [[Ramzan Kadyrov]].<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/03/26/putin-insists-on-russian-law-in-chechnya-while-supporting-muslim-president/</ref> Kadyrov has de facto established Islamic rule in the region and was condemned by the international community for slaughtering gay citizens.<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chechnya-ramzan-kadyrov-gay-citizens-massacre-chechen-leader-do-not-exist-russia-vladimir-putin-a7675906.html</ref> Chechen authorities have imposed a compulsory Islamic dresscode for women.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-12705300</ref>

==Critics==
Corporate media television host Sean Hannity has repeatedly issued warnings that Putin is a thug and a "bad actor" who cannot be trusted.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2018/02/16/hannity-examining-key-points-from-russian-indictments.html Hannity: Examining key points from Russian indictments]</ref>

[[Robert Kraft]], the [[NFL]] oligarch who was arrested on a morals charge in [[Florida]], accused Putin of stealing Kraft's [[Super Bowl]] ring. Putin responded that Kraft gave it to him as a gift.

==Quotes==
*"Anyone who doesn't regret the passing of the Soviet Union has no heart. Anyone who wants it restored has no brains."<ref>Parfitt, Tom (December 23, 2007). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/dec/23/russia.tomparfitt Spy who came in from the cold]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved September 15, 2018.</ref>

*“I think all sober-minded people who really are involved in politics understand that the idea of a Russian threat to, for example, the Baltics is complete madness. Are we really about to fight NATO? How many people are there in the NATO countries? About 600 million, correct? There are 146 million people in Russia. Yes, we're the biggest nuclear power. But do you really think that we're about to conquer the Baltics using nuclear weapons? What is this madness?”

*If nukes head towards Russia we are going to Paradise, but they won't have time to repent."<ref>https://youtu.be/YeNwyVG8Egs</ref>

*"Hitler tried to destroy Russia. Everyone needs to remember how that ended."

*"If you try to bite Russia, we'll knock your teeth out."

*"[[Berlusconi]] is being tried because he lives with women. If he were homosexual, no one would lift a finger against him."<ref>https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1202445</ref>

*"There is also the so-called [[liberalism|liberal]] idea, which has outlived its purpose. Our Western partners have admitted that some elements of the liberal idea, such as [[multiculturalism]], are no longer tenable."<ref>https://www.ft.com/video/a49cfa25-610e-438c-b11d-5dac19619e08</ref>

==See also==
* [[Dmitri Medvedev]]
* [[Crisis in Ukraine]]
* [[Russophobia]]
* [[Oleg Deripaska]]
* [[Yelena Baturina]]

==Further reading==
* Baker, Peter, and Susan Glasser. ''Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin's Russia and the End of Revolution'' (2nd ed. 2007); [https://www.amazon.com/Kremlin-Rising-Vladimir-Revolution-Updated/dp/1597971227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256923460&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Goldman, Marshall I. ''Petrostate: Putin, Power, and the New Russia'' (2008) [https://www.amazon.com/Petrostate-Putin-Power-New-Russia/dp/0195340736/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256915128&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]
* Lucas, Edward. ''The New Cold War: Putin's Russia and the Threat to the West'' (2009) [https://www.amazon.com/New-Cold-War-Putins-Russia/dp/0230614345/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256915128&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Stuermer, Michael. ''Putin and the Rise of Russia'' (2009)
* Wegren, Stephen K., and Dale R. Herspring, eds. ''After Putin's Russia: Past Imperfect, Future Uncertain'' (4th ed. 2009) [https://www.amazon.com/After-Putins-Russia-Imperfect-Uncertain/dp/0742557855/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 excerpt and text search]
* Poleev, Andrej. [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4621093 Putinism: A Phenomenological and Prototypical Investigation.] (2012-2021).

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://putin.kremlin.ru/ Official Putin Website]
* [http://kremlin.ru/ Official President of Russia Website]
* [[David Horowitz|Horowitz, David]], [http://frontpagemag.com/2013/frontpagemag-com/putin-and-the-shadow-of-the-kgb-on-the-glazov-gang/ Putin and the shadow of the KGB on the Glazov Gang], Sherman Oaks, [[California]]: [http://www.frontpagemag.com/about/ David Horowitz Freedom Center], Published April 5, 2013.
*[https://youtu.be/cMFIWBQB1kE WATCH and LISTEN: Putin Sings Russian National Anthem With 130,000 People!] (Subtitles and lyrics in closed captioning)
*[https://youtu.be/8X7Ng75e5gQ Vladimir Pozner: How the United States Created Vladimir Putin], YaleUniversity, Oct. 2, 2018. YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Putin, Vladimir}}

[[Category:Current Heads of State]]
[[Category:Russian People]]
[[Category:Russian Political People]]
[[Category:Orthodox Christians]]
[[Category:Men]]
[[Category:Nationalists]]
[[Category:Pro-Life]]

Vladimir Putin

2022-05-22T03:56:20Z

Conservapeta:

{{Officeholder
|name=Vladimir Putin
|image=Vladimir Putin (2017-07-08).jpg
|party=[[United Russia]]
|offices=|offices={{Officeholder/president
|country=Russia
|number=2nd and 4th
|terms=December 31, 1999 – May 7, 2008 (first) May 7, 2012 – (second)
|vp=[[Dmitry Medvedev]]
|preceded=[[Boris Yeltsin]] (First term), Dmitry Medvedev (Second term)
|succeeded
}}
|religion=[[Russian Orthodox]]
}}
'''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Владимир Владимирович Путин) (born October 7, 1952) is the socially [[conservative]] president of the [[Russian Federation]], a position he's held since 2012, after serving as prime minister since May 8, 2008, and previously serving as [[president]] since December 31, 1999<ref>[[Boris Yeltsin]] resigned from the presidency on that day, and Putin was later elected president by 54% of the electorate on March 26, 2000.</ref> Vladimir Putin's decision in February 2022 to commit an incursion into the [[Ukraine]] was based upon the [[Bush Doctrine]] of preventative war and the UN sanctioned doctrine of R2P (responsibility to protect), as articulated by [[Samantha Power]] during the 2011 [[Libyan war]], to protect civilians in the [[Donbas]] region who had endured eight years of atrocities by the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup|Maidan regime]] and which was preparing a large full scale military action against Russian-speaking people.

Despite Western [[propaganda]] and calls for an uprising to overthrow Vladimir Putin, more than 1 million people turned out in the streets of [[Moscow]] for the 2022 [[Victory Day]] celebrations of the Immortal Regiment for which Vladimir Putin was the featured honored speaker.<ref>https://videopress.com/v/KnJnf4eu</ref>

Putin had increased Russia's stature in international affairs despite its weak economic position.<ref>Seib, Gerald F. (May 6, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-punches-above-his-weight-11557150000 Putin Punches Above His Weight]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved May 7, 2019.</ref> As a result of the economic sanctions leveled against Putin, he was booted out of the [[World Economic Forum]].<ref>https://twitter.com/teddyfenton1/status/1498792512772784128|</ref> As of March 2022 however, Putin still maintained a [[Twitter]] account.<ref>https://thefederalist.com/2022/03/04/after-banning-trump-for-denouncing-violence-twitter-lets-putin-keep-his-account/</ref>

A baptized Russian Orthodox [[Christian]] who quotes the [[Bible]],<ref>https://www.libertynation.com/why-vladimir-putin-quotes-the-bible/ (analyzing with skepticism Putin's quote of [[Scriptures]]).</ref> Putin leads the increasingly [[conservative]] Russia against the [[homosexual agenda]], [[transgenderism]], and towards the [[pro-life]] side. [[Abortion]] and other [[leftist]] values had virtually wiped out natural population growth in [[Soviet]] times, and left an indelible scar on [[culture]]. Liberals criticize Putin and [[Russia]] because they disagree with him on social issues. [[Obama]] even refused to attend the Winter Olympic games held in Russia in 2014. Putin has also criticized liberal values as "against nature" and out of touch with a more traditional population.<ref>Multiple references:
*Isachenkov, Vladimir (June 29, 2019). [https://www.apnews.com/401b6cfd5b9c4a619851196410bc5814 Putin says liberalism ‘eating itself,’ migrant influx wrong]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*Calicchio, Dom (June 28, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/world/putin-liberal-values-obsolete-people-in-west-prefer-traditional-values Putin: Liberal values ‘obsolete,’ people in West prefer ‘traditional’ values]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*[https://in.reuters.com/article/russia-putin-europe-values/russias-putin-says-liberal-values-are-obsolete-idINKCN1TS2VB Russia's Putin says liberal values are obsolete - FT]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48795764 Putin: Russian president says liberalism 'obsolete']. ''BBC News''. June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
*[https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-tells-ft-the-liberal-idea-has-become-obsolete-/30026237.html Putin Tells FT: 'The Liberal Idea Has Become Obsolete']. ''Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.</ref>

Putin may privately seek to issue a new era of [[Orthodox Christian|Orthodox]] [[Christendom]] with [[Moscow]] as the Third Rome. Under this view, Moscow would succeed [[Constantinople]] as the center of Orthodoxy after nearly 1700 years.

Putin has many controversial statements on [[Communism]] and has a good attitude toward the [[Muslim]] minorities living in the Russian Federation. [[Alexander Dugin]] argues:<ref>http://www.aspeninstitute.it/aspenia-online/article/russian-conservative-view-putin-interview-alexander-dugin</ref>
{{Cquote|If we consider the situation in Russia more closely, we will discover that almost all that is said in the West about Putin is wrong. It is a complete caricature. The most important criticism of Putin inside Russia is not from the liberals. Liberals represent the smallest part of the critics. They are absolutely marginal… So the West is absolutely wrong in thinking that there is this big liberal opposition to Putin that is artificially kept down. The real opposition to Putin is growing completely on the other side of Russian society. It is growing discontent with "lunar" Putin, against the Putin who is surrounded by liberals. All the government is completely not only corrupt, it consists of pro-Western liberals. Nothing has changed after the last election.}}

[[Forbes]] ranked Putin as the most powerful man in the world as of December 2016, while Obama was ranked #48. Putin gains popularity every time he challenges the U.S. or Europe, or sends troops into Georgia.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/datablog/2015/jul/23/vladimir-putins-approval-rating-at-record-levels</ref> Putin's Russia is an authoritarian system, with restricted capitalism, a rubber stamp parliament, compliant media, imprisoned or exiled oligarchs, harassed NGOs, marginalized pro-Western democratic parties, and a foreign policy based on confronting [[Western]] hypocrisy, double standards, and cultural decadence, all based on money from oil and gas.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkaylan/2016/09/20/putin-brings-back-the-kgb-as-russia-moves-from-authoritarian-to-totalitarian/#48e4a416398a</ref><ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32860526]</ref>

In March 2018, Putin unveiled his revamped nuclear missile program, which was a response to the NATO challenge.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-01/putin-calls-for-raising-living-standards-in-annual-address Putin Shows Off New Nuclear Weapons, Warns West to ‘Listen’]</ref> In 2021, American socialist leader [[Joe Biden]] colluded with Putin to raise gasoline prices and home heating bills.<ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/18/bidens-record-spending-will-only-add-fuel-inflatio/</ref>

Putin has become the brunt of much hatred and snarling in [[the West]], which typically is responded to with the enjoinder, "The 80s are calling. They want their foreign policy back".<ref>https://www.salon.com/2012/10/23/obama_the_80s_called_they_want_their_foreign_policy_back/</ref> Putin is known for his quick-witted sense of humor.
{|class="infobox" style="float:right; font-size:85%; width:1ex; line-height:17px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 50px" cellpadding="1"
|[[File:Zelensky transvestism.PNG|410px]]
|[[File:Putin and Zelensky.png|300px]]
|-
|colspan="3"|<hr/>(Second from left) Actor, puppet, cocaine addict and [[commander-in-chief]] of Ukrainian armed forces [[Volodymyr Zelensky]], chest exposed, tight leather pants, wearing high heels depicted as the "modern [[Churchill]]" in Western [[psyops]];<ref>[https://medium.com/prismnpen/ukrainian-presidents-queer-parody-riles-american-evangelicals-66b41821b961 ''Prism and Pen''.]</ref> (right) President Vladimir Putin receives intelligence briefing on the person, character, and business connections of Volodymyr Zelensky.
|}
==Background==
Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952. According to a made-for-television documentary entitled, ''The second baptism of Rus'', Putin told a personal story how his mother had him secretly baptized in the Russian Orthodox church as his father, who was a member of the Communist Party organization in the factory where he worked, would have faced serious problems.<ref>https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2013/07/23/putin-christened-in-secret-from-his-father-a26057</ref> Putin was a [[judo]] champion in his youth.<ref>http://nypost.com/2013/11/13/vladimir-putin-is-tougher-than-chuck-norris/</ref> He was educated in law and economics at Leningrad State University before being assigned to work in the [[KGB]].<ref>[http://en.putin.kremlin.ru/ Webpage of Vladimir Putin]</ref> After five years in [[East Germany]], he took up various political positions before becoming [[prime minister]] in 1999.
[[File:Vladtheimpaler.jpg|thumb|200px|Putin at an conference]]
He was married to Lyudmila Putina, a former stewardess with Aeroflot, from July 28, 1983, until 2014, when the two divorced. They have two daughters.

The legend of Putin began the night of the [[Fall of the Wall]] in Germany. Putin was stationed in the consulate in [[Dresden]]. A mob had raided the [[East German]] [[Stasi]] headquarters and moved on to the Soviet consulate. In the chaos, communication with [[Moscow]] was cut off. Putin, acting alone without instructions and armed only with a pistol, stared down the mob and told them if they took one more step, they would be shot. The mob retreated and returned to continue pillaging the Stasi headquarters.

As the 1990s progressed, Western [[capital]] and corporate raiders flooded into Russia to buy up Soviet assets at bargain basement prices. Prior to the collapse, Soviet enterprises did not operate on the profit motive and received government subsidies, keeping outmoded factories and industries alive while operating at a loss to keep workers employed. When the subsidies and transfers of wealth perished with the Soviet government, the country fell into a deep recession. People were not very enamored toward the transition to capitalism as foreign investors took control of the nation's economy.<ref>In a review of ''New York Times'' reporter Anne Williamson's book, ''Contagion: The Betrayal of Liberty -- Russia and the United States in the 1990s'', Paul Likoudis writes: "According to the [[socialist]] theoreticians at [[Harvard]], Russia needed to be brought into the [[New World Order]] in a hurry; and what better way to do it than [Jeffrey] Sachs' "shock therapy" -- a plan that empowered the degenerate, third-generation descendants of the original [[Bolshevik]]s by assigning them the deeds of Russia's mightiest state-owned industries -- including the giant gas, oil, electrical, and telecommunications industries, the world's largest paper, iron, and steel factories, the world's richest gold, silver, diamond, and platinum mines, automobile and airplane factories, etc. -- who, in turn, sold some of their shares of the properties to Westerners for a song, and pocketed the cash, while retaining control of the companies.

These third-generation Bolsheviks -- led by former [[Pravda]] hack Yegor Gaidar, grandson of a Bolshevik who achieved prominence as the [[Young mass murders|teenage mass murderer]] of [[White Army]] officers, now heads the Moscow-based Institute for Economies in Transition -- became instant millionaires (or billionaires) and left the Russian workers virtual slaves of them and their new foreign investors." [https://www.blacklistednews.com/HOW_CLINTON_AND_COMPANY_AND_THE_BANKERS_PLUNDERED_RUSSIA_IN_THE_%2790S/48111/0/38/38/Y/M.html HOW CLINTON AND COMPANY AND THE BANKERS PLUNDERED RUSSIA IN THE '90s], Paul Likoudis, January 2, 2016 </ref> As in the Dresden incident, Putin's reputation of instinctively standing up to foreign intruders in defense of his country propelled his political rise.

===Domestic policy===
A [[Christian]] himself, Putin governs a nation that is rapidly becoming more Christian and more [[conservative]], and his snubbing of [[liberal]] [[Obama]] in May 2012 suggests that Putin is well aware of how conservative his country is becoming. On social issues and taxation, Russia under Putin is more conservative today than the [[Western Europe]].

In terms of achievements, Putin has successfully opposed the [[homosexual agenda]] and has supported [[pro-life]] reforms. He has also stabilized the Russian economy and restored Russia's national pride, largely by politically exploiting the financial windfall of Europe's need for Russian oil and gas. Russians were enthusiastic that he ended the social chaos that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent pell-mell privatization of the state-owned economy. Many Russians have been mesmerized by the new glitter of Moscow and the restored glamour of St. Petersburg. Russia's revived self-pride follows the humiliation of the chaos after 1991 and the incompetence of his predecessor [[Boris Yeltsin]]. Russians have a long history of authoritarian governments and a strong distaste for anarchy. They have little experience with freedom. The Russian mafia, which is more sophisticated than its counterparts elsewhere, controls more than 40 percent of the total economy. Their control is thought to be even greater in certain areas, such as banking, real estate, and consumer markets.<ref>[http://www.worldbank.org/html/prddr/trans/janfeb97/art4.htm Louise I. Shelley, ''The Price Tag of Russia's Organized Crime'']</ref> In November 2014, Putin started allowing his citizens to own concealed firearms for self-defense, but under certain restrictions.<ref>https://www.rt.com/news/206703-russia-guns-self-defense/</ref> Russia under Putin made it illegal for foreigners without a permit to preach, and banned cults that are harmful to families (Jehovah's Witnesses and Scientology engage in family shunning while Falun Gong, whose founder lives in a luxurious property, prevents family members from seeking medical treatment).<ref>http://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2197s</ref> Not having a permit is why a Baptist pastor got heavily fined.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/russia-persecution-christians-intensifies-putin-cant-be-trusted-experts-warn-184255/</ref> Like many parts of Europe, blasphemy against the church is also illegal.<ref>http://www.aif.ru/society/law/delo_est_a_boga_net_za_chto_na_samom_dele_sudyat_viktora_krasnova?fbclid=IwAR2bypeUccKIaU4-J0V-Ybe4pl0EsUK32g4EaItpB8pdJ_ZQ5SYS37lh7dU</ref><ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/03/russian-atheist-faces-year-in-jail-for-denying-existence-of-god-during-webchat</ref>

In May 2019, Putin signed a bill into law ordering the creation of "a national internet network that would be able to operate independently from the rest of the world."<ref>Gstalter, Morgan (May 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/policy/international/441751-putin-signs-controversial-internet-law Putin signs controversial internet law]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 2, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/05/02/putin-signs-sovereign-internet-law-expands-government-control/ Putin Signs ‘Sovereign Internet’ Law, Expands Government Control]</ref> Russia began testing this network.<ref>Bonn, Tess (December 26, 2019). [https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/475984-russia-successfully-tests-country-wide-alternative-to-global Russia successfully tests country-wide alternative to global internet]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved December 26, 2019.</ref>

===Political career===
[[File:V Putin.jpg|thumb|200px]]
In the Yeltsin years during the transition to capitalism, corrupt foreign and domestic [[oligarch]]s took control of the country. Putin's rise to power as a [[populist]] was by taxing and driving out corrupt foreign oligarchs whom the public viewed as looting the country, and throwing in jail corrupt domestic oligarchs as tax cheats. The oligarchs were his political enemies. Putin's success as a leader in Russia came about by reigning in the power of oligarchs. He allowed them to run the Russian economy provided that they stay out of politics, unlike Western so-called "democracies". Contrary to [[Western]] and [[CIA]] propaganda, Putin is not a friend of or controlled by oligarchs; rather, the oligarchs bow to his instructions and demands.

Putin is mainly backed by the [[United Russia]] (''Единая Россия'') party, which currently holds a majority in the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, known as the ''Duma''. As a centrist party, it usually reflects the political views of Putin, which are that of authoritarian statism and [[nationalism]]. On March 14, 2004, he was elected to a second term as president with 71% of the vote. Barred from a third consecutive term by the Russian constitution, Putin ceded the presidency to [[Dmitry Medvedev]] on May 7, 2008, and became Prime Minister, at the time-sharing power with the more moderate Medvedev. Medvedev did not run for a second term, and, as a result, Putin was re-elected in 2012. Putin was again re-elected in 2018, facing little real opposition.

After his 2018 victory, Putin's approval ratings fell significantly due to public disapproval of some of his domestic policies.<ref>Bennetts, Marc (August 12, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/12/vladimir-putin-faces-russia-democracy-movement-dec/ Putin's political milestone marred by plummeting polls, massive protests]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved August 12, 2019.</ref>

==Political views==
Putin has been accused of employing the United States [[Democratic party]] tactic of illegal surveillance, harassment, investigation, arrest, and jailing political opponents and dissidents, ostensibly as agents of a foreign power or domestic terrorists.

Learning from the mistakes of USSR in the Eastern Bloc, he made clear that taking countries against their right to self-determination is counterproductive and drains resources.<ref>https://youtu.be/DHIxry8WfyA</ref>

===Relations with NATO===
In an interview with David Frost broadcast on the [[BBC]] on March 13, 2000, Putin expressed his desire to see Russia join NATO:<ref>https://www.gazeta.ru/2001/02/28/putin_i_bbc.shtml</ref>
[[File:Putin unkown soldier.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Putin lays a wreath a the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the anniversary of the German invasion of the Soviet Union.]]
{{quotebox-float|'''Frost: Tell me about your views on NATO, if you would. Do you see NATO as a potential partner, or rival, or an enemy?'''

'''Putin:''' Russia is a part of European culture. I simply cannot see my country isolated from Europe, from what we often describe as the civilized world. That is why it is hard for me to regard NATO as an enemy. I think that such a perception has nothing good in store for Russia and the rest of the world. ...

We strive for equal cooperation, partnership, we believe that it is possible to speak even about higher levels of integration with NATO. But only, I repeat, if Russia is an equal partner. As you know, we constantly express our negative attitude to NATO's expansion to the East. ...

'''Frost: Is it possible that Russia will ever join NATO?'''

'''Putin:''' Why not? I do not rule out such a possibility. I repeat, on condition that Russia's interests are going to be taken into account, if Russia becomes a full-fledged partner. I want to specially emphasize this. ...

When we say that we object to NATO's expansion to the East, we are not expressing any special ambitions of our own, ambitions in respect of some regions of the world. ... By the way, we have never declared any part of the world a zone of our national interests. Personally, I prefer to speak about strategic partnership. The zone of strategic interests of any particular region means first of all the interests of the people who live in that region. ...}}
Within hours after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to call President [[George W. Bush]] and offer sympathy and support for what became the first invocation of NATO Article V, "an attack against one is an attack against all."<ref>https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/10/ar911.russia.putin/index.html</ref> Putin announced a five-point plan to support the [[war on terror]], pledging that the Russian government would (1) share intelligence with their American counterparts, (2) open Russian airspace for flights providing humanitarian assistance (3) cooperate with Russia's Central Asian allies in [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]] to provide similar kinds of airspace access to American flights, (4) participate in international search and rescue efforts, and (5) increase direct assistance -humanitarian as well as military assistance -- to the Afghan Northern Alliance. The intelligence Putin shared, including data that helped American forces find their way around [[Kabul]] and logistical information about Afghanistan’s topography and caves, contributed to the success of operation and rout of the Taliban. Two weeks after the attacks, Putin was invited to make a speech to a Special Session of the Bundestag, the first ever by a Russian head of state to the German parliament.<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/40168</ref> Among the numerous subjects Putin addressed in fluent German was peace and stability in the common European home:
{{quotebox-float|"But what are we lacking today for cooperation to be efficient?

In spite of all the positive achievements of the past decades, we have not yet developed an efficient mechanism for working together.

The coordinating agencies set up so far do not offer Russia real opportunities for taking part in drafting and taking decision. Today decisions are often taken, in principle, without our participation, and we are only urged afterwards to support such decisions. After that they talk again about loyalty to NATO. They even say that such decisions cannot be implemented without Russia. Let us ask ourselves: is this normal? Is this true partnership?

Yes, the assertion of [[democratic]] principles in international relations, the ability to find a correct decision and readiness for compromise are a difficult thing. But then, it was the Europeans who were the first to understand how important it is to look for consensus over and above national egoism. We agree with that! All these are good ideas. However, the quality of decisions that are taken, their efficiency and, ultimately, European and international security in general depend on the extent to which we succeed today in translating these obvious principles into practical politics.

It seemed just recently that a truly common home would shortly rise on the continent, a home in which the Europeans would not be divided into eastern or western, northern or southern. However, these divides will remain, primarily because we have never fully shed many of the Cold War stereotypes and cliches.

Today we must say once and for all: the Cold War is done with! We have entered a new stage of development. We understand that without a modern, sound and sustainable security architecture we will never be able to create an atmosphere of trust on the continent, and without that atmosphere of trust there can be no united Greater Europe! Today we must say that we renounce our stereotypes and ambitions and from now on will jointly work for the security of the people of Europe and the world as a whole.}}
In 2004 the Baltic states - [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], and [[Estonia]] joined NATO in violation of assurances made to Russian leaders when German Unification occurred. The provocative action created for the first time a common border between the Russian Federation and a NATO state. Three years later, at the Munich Security Conference, Putin declared, “We have the right to ask: against whom is this [NATO] expansion intended? And what happened to the assurances our western partners made after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those declarations today? No one even remembers them.”<ref>https://aldeilis.net/english/putins-historical-speech-munich-conference-security-policy-2007/</ref> In 2008 NATO said Ukraine and Georgia would become members. Four other [[Eastern Europe]]an states joined NATO in 2009.

In the face of the NATO onslaught, Putin repeatedly warned the West with the refrain of a made popular by [[Yulia Chicherina]] during the ongoing NATO-funded [[Donbas war]],<ref>https://youtu.be/HdVkbCGEyT8</ref> "we have nowhere to retreat."<ref>https://youtu.be/i0YqXRPHisE</ref>

===Relations with the EU===
[[File:Putin ate my homework.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Anti-Putin Russophobia in the West, 2022.]]
In 2014 Putin founded the [[Eurasian Economic Union]] to counter [[European Union]] meddling in [[Eastern Europe]]an nation's affairs.

After [[Crimea]] was returned to Russia, the European Union imposed sanctions against Putin and the Russian government.<ref>http://rt.com/business/168192-eu-sanctions-crimea-deadlock/</ref>

The relations within the EU are different and divided, it is mainly the following countries advocating namely a critical attitude towards the Russian government: the Baltic states ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]]) [[Poland]], [[Sweden]], [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]],<ref>http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russian-sanctions-debate-divides-eu/</ref><ref>https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4464/eu-russia</ref>
while the following countries have a less hostile attitude or want to maintain a better relationship: [[Hungary]], [[Italy]] and [[Czech Republic]].

Also, multiple nationalist parties in the EU appreciate Putin's policies against the Leftist liberal dominance in Europe, like [[Marine Le Pen]]'s [[French National Front|National Front]].

Despite EU sanctions, Russia under cooperation between Putin and [[German]] Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] continued expanding economically into Western Europe.<ref>Strobel, Warren P. (March 11, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-economic-clout-in-europe-grows-despite-sanctions-study-says-11552333028 Russia’s Economic Clout in Europe Grows Despite Sanctions, Study Says]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.</ref>

===Relations under George W. Bush===
Initially relations between [[George W. Bush]] and Putin were good, with Putin lending support to Bush's war on global terror. Putin was restrained from giving much assistance outside the Russian Federation, being pre-occupied with the [[Islamist]] movements waging [[jihad]] inside his own borders.

In Bush's late second term, Putin was concerned about jihadist infiltration from [[Turkey]] and [[Syria]] through the [[Republic of Georgia]], and intervened. Former members of the [[Warsaw Pact]], who were more supportive of the war on terror than even the US population, then asked for deployment of missile defense systems on their territories, which the [[Bush administration]] was inclined to favor as a reward for their help. Russia considered missile defense deployment on their borders overt acts of hostility. Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, in competition to outdo each other, condemned George W. Bush and [[Condoleezza Rice]] by sidling up to the Russians and Islamists whom the [[Democrat]]s portrayed as oppressed victims of a [[globalism|global]] [[neocon]] [[conspiracy]].

===Relations under Barack Obama===
[[File:Targeted sanctions.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Targetted Sanctions'', from a Moscow art exhibition.]]
President [[Barack Obama]] and Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] initially cozied up to Putin, charging the Bush administration was intent on reigniting the [[Cold War]]. However once the [[Rosatom-Uranium One deal]] was completed and the [[Clinton Foundation]] pocketed millions of dollars from Putin cronies in donations and speaking fees, relations began to sour as the Obama administration could no longer ignore geopolitical realities. Putin had protested the Obama administrations illegal drone strikes, and the administration placed [[Magnitsky Act|sanctions on Russian leaders]] ostensibly in retaliation for the Crimean referendum.<ref>https://youtu.be/I-9aD45qxbE</ref>

President Obama's decision to move an anti-missile defense system to [[Romania]] during the [[2016 US Presidential election]] only heightened tensions. Putin, who had repeatedly assailed the antimissile system as a grave danger to Russia's security, called Obama's decision dangerous. This coupled with Obama's implementation of sanctions rather than honor the [[American foreign policy#1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances|1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]] negotiated by the [[Clinton administration]], displaying it as an empty promise to guarantee Ukrainian independence, only further exposed the befuddlement and inability of the Obama administration to stand by US commitments and the weaknesses of NATO.

In September 2013, Putin gave a speech stating the need to strengthen Russian culture with traditional values and the Orthodox Christian church. Also, he condemned Western nations and their godless pursuit of [[political correctness]] and [[homosexuality]].<ref>[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/cdedfd64-214f-11e3-a92a-00144feab7de.html#axzz2jdyir54U Putin urges Russians to return to values of religion, FT.com, September 19, 2013]</ref>

In early September 2013, Putin expressly observed that liberal [[John Kerry]] is a liar.

====Obama/Biden Maidan coup====
{{See also|Maidan coup}}
[[File:Revolution of Dignity.PNG|left|300px|thumb|Russian victims of the Obama-backed "[[Revolution of Dignity]]."<ref>https://archive.fo/1XFO5</ref>]]
Putin is seen as an antagonist by [[liberal]]s in the West, who are angry about their inability to push the [[homosexual agenda]] and pro-[[abortion]] policies on Russia. Putin views NATO enlargement by absorbing former Soviet client states as a potential threat to the Russian Federation. Putin has proposed a policy of "Findlandization", i.e., making permanently neutral the Ukraine and Georgia and not incorporating them into NATO under the US's Partners for Peace program. Putin's alleged rigged election system, nuclear energy contracts and military alliance with Iran have heightened tensions. According to [[mainstream media]], the decline of [[human rights]] in Russia has been dramatic; for example, Russian riot police beat a number of protesters and journalists at an anti-Putin rally at Pushkin Square in Moscow,<ref>''The Economist'', April 21, 2007</ref> and Putin rigged national elections for his party <ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL03585550._CH_.2400</ref>

Putin has even exercised power over the Russian supreme court. Justice Vladimir Yaroslavtsev was forced to resign after warning that Russian security agencies now control the country as they did in Soviet times and expressing alarm over their lack of accountability. Justice Anatoly Kononov was likewise forced out after defending Yaroslavtsev.<ref>[http://www.robertamsterdam.com/2009/12/are_you_an_independent_russian_judge_youre_fired.htm ''Are You An Independent Russian Judge? You're Fired'', RobertAmsterdam.com]</ref>

Many who have reported or protested such things have found themselves being repressed - or killed.<ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/putins_own_worst_enemy.html Kim Zigfeld, ''Putin's Own Worst Enemy''] American Thinker, December 08, 2009</ref><ref>http://larussophobe.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/editorial-another-russian-journalist-takes-the-putin-plunge</ref> Journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]], an outspoken critic of Putin, was assassinated in 2006,<ref>http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1819666.ece</ref> and it is widely believed that the Russian government had some involvement in this death. There were 13 journalists killed in contract-style slayings during Vladimir Putin's eight-year presidency.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438381,00.html Russian Lawyer in Slain Journalist Case Says She, Family Poisoned] AP, October 15, 2008</ref>

Despite these negatives – or perhaps because of the strong hand they reveal – Putin remains popular in Russia.<ref>http://www.levada.ru/prezident.html Putin's Approval Ratings</ref> Since coming to power, Putin has expanded Russia's economy and reduced inflation. The majority of Russians are relatively uninterested in politics outside of issues affecting their personal prosperity,<ref>''The Economist'', April 21, 2007</ref> and journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]] argued that the Russian people, as a whole, have been willing to tolerate violence in the name of "comfort and peace and quiet".<ref>Politkovskaya, Anna. Putin's Russia. London: Harvill Press, 2004</ref>

===Relations under Donald Trump===

President [[Donald Trump]] accused Putin of taking [[Crimea]] by force and asked whether Obama was too soft on Russia.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-latest-tweet-accuse-crimea-obama-too-soft-distance-campaign-team-white-house-a7581511.html Donald Trump accuses Russia of taking Crimea by force in attempt to distance himself from campaign allegations]</ref> In March 2017 the US department of state strongly condemned the arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/26/hundreds-arrested-mass-protests-against-vladimir-putins-government/ Washington condemns arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government]</ref> The US Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson]] said that US sanctions against Russia will remain in place until Moscow "reverses the actions" it has taken in Ukraine.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/31/politics/rex-tillerson-russia-ukraine/ Tillerson: US to maintain Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia until Crimea is returned]</ref>

In response to the April, 4 chemical attack on Khan Shaykhun in [[Syria]], President Trump launched 59-Tomahawk rockets on a Syrian Air base nearby, tensions led up with Russia, Syria's ally, Putin has called that the US attack was an "illegal act of aggression",<ref>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4389332/Russia-calls-airstrikes-Syria-act-aggression.html</ref> and answered this attack by sending a frigate to the military base in Syria.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/world/middleeast/russia-iran-us-strikes-syria.html?_r=0</ref> In April 2017 Putin explained that the US-Russia relations have gotten worse under Trump, contrary to narratives put out by the liberal mainstream media that Trump is too "soft" to Putin and is Putin's 'puppet' .<ref>http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/228064</ref>

In December 2017 Putin warned President Trump because of his decision to move the US embassy from [[Tel Aviv]] to [[Jerusalem]] and stated that he was "deeply concerned".<ref>[https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239041 Putin 'deeply concerned' by Trump's Jerusalem move]. ''IsraelNationalNews''. December 18, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2018.</ref> Putin also opposed Trump's withdrawal from the [[Iran nuclear deal]] and told that Russia would continue to honor its obligations under this deal.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/putin-criticizes-u-s-over-iran-deal-at-summit-with-china-1.6158932 Putin Criticizes Trump Over Iran Nuclear Deal]. ''Haaretz''. June 10, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.</ref>

In March 2018, Russian Propaganda video was released showing how a new missile program could be used to attack America. In the video, the state of [[Florida]] was specifically targeted.<ref>[http://fortune.com/2018/03/01/putin-russia-nuclear-threat-florida-mar-a-lago/ Why Russia Would Specifically Choose to Threaten Florida With a Nuclear Blast]</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43248794 Why would Putin want to nuke Florida?]</ref>

===Relations with Joe Biden===
{{See also|Biden/Harris regime foreign policy#Ukraine}}
[[File:Joe Biden at CFR meeting 2018 2.jpeg|right|300px|thumb|The [[Biden family]] is on the payroll of the Ukrainian firm [[Burisma]], while many Ukrainian operatives in the U.S.<ref>e.g. [[Alexandra Chalupa]] and [[Alexander Vindman]]</ref> and abroad are inimically hostile toward Russia.]]
As vice-president in 2011, Putin snubbed [[Joe Biden]] in a face-to-face meeting. Sitting across a conference table Putin, Biden attempted to lecture Putin. Biden said, "I’ve been around a long time. The first time I was here…” and in mid-sentence his microphone was cut off,<ref>https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/10/remarks-vice-president-joe-biden-and-russian-prime-minister-vladimir-put</ref> the lights for the TV cameras went off, and the press was told to leave. The press exited quickly and quietly. Videocameras were disassembled from tripods and still photographers stopped shooting. Portable lights came down from retractable poles. No one spoke and no one lingered. Putin baited Biden, pulled the plug, stole Biden's audience, and rendered him speechless. Putin and the Russian delegation sat as their American counterparts realized Biden's big moment had been stolen right out from under him. Putin had neither fear nor respect for Biden, and Biden was humiliated.<ref>https://thenationalpulse.com/analysis/putin-humiliated-biden-in-moscow-meeting/</ref>

In 2014 Hunter Biden colluded with and received $3.5 million from [[Elena Baturina]], the richest woman in Russia and widow of former Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov as payment to establish an American bank account for her.<ref>https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missionquestfpb/shock-man-who-had-hunter-biden-s-laptop-suggests-t-t10669-s2420.html</ref> In late 2019 Baturina was declared a fugitive from Russian justice.<ref>https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-court-declares-late-moscow-mayor-s-widow-wanted-after-failure-to-appear/30348065.html</ref>

Biden cozied up to Vladimir Putin when he rescinded the Trump-era opposition to the [[Nord Stream II]] pipeline.<ref>https://dennismichaellynch.com/daily-newsletter/</ref> The Russian project is designed to ship gas and oil directly from Russia to [[Germany]] under the [[Baltic Sea]]. Russia has attempted to pressure Ukraine numerous time since the break-up of the Soviet Union to abandon its bid to join [[NATO]] by cutting off oil and gas supplies. In doing so, Russia inadvertently also cuts off supplies to Germany, a very rich and large customer. The Nordtream pipeline is intended to counter this collateral effect, while pressuring Ukraine, [[Poland]] and [[Hungary]] to remain in the Russian orbit. The pipeline itself is a massive scandal in Germany, with for [[Democratic Socialist]] [[Gerhard Schroeder]] chancellor heading the Nordstram pipeline company and a major stockholders.<ref>https://www.politico.eu/article/opinion-schroders-russian-sell-out/</ref>

''[[Newsweek]]'' reported three weeks after [[Operation Denazification]] in Ukraine began that Putin's Approval Ratings in Russia rose from 60% before the operation to 71%.<ref>https://www.newsweek.com/vladimir-putin-approval-rating-poll-latest-levada-russia-1687543</ref>

{{Anchor|Empire of Lies}}
====Empire of Lies speech====

On February 24, 2022 Putin delivered an anti-[[woke]] speech condemning the United States promotion, both domestically and among its allies, [[values]] that are "contrary to human nature":
[[File:Putin and Zelensky.png|right|300px|thumb|Putin's "My Pet Goat" moment: Putin being briefed on [[Volodoymr Zelensky]]'s [[transvestism]] and wearing high heels.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/f1Ll6yw172sg/</ref>]]
{{quotebox-float|"US politicians, political scientists and journalists write and say that a veritable “empire of lies” has been created inside the United States in recent years. It is hard to disagree with this – it is really so. But one should not be modest about it: the United States is still a great country and a system-forming power. All its satellites not only humbly and obediently say 'yes' to, and parrot it at the slightest pretext, but also imitate its behavior and enthusiastically accept the rules it is offering them. Therefore, one can say with good reason and confidence that the whole so-called [[Western bloc]] formed by the United States in its own image and likeness is, in its entirety, the very same “empire of lies.”

As for our country, after the disintegration of the USSR, given the entire unprecedented [[glasnost|openness]] of the new, modern Russia, its readiness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners, and its practically unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to put the final squeeze on us, finish us off, and utterly destroy us. This is how it was in the 1990s and the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West was actively supporting separatism and gangs of [[mercenaries]] in southern Russia. What victims, what losses we had to sustain, and [[Russia#Chechen_wars|what trials we had to go through]] at that time before we broke the back of international terrorism in the [[Caucasus]]! We remember this and will never forget.<ref>Putin is speaking of such events as the [[Beslan massacre]]</ref>

Properly speaking, the attempts to use us in their own interests never ceased until quite recently: they sought to destroy our [[traditional values]] and force on us their [[Liberalism|false values]] that would erode us, our people from within, the attitudes they have been aggressively imposing on their countries, attitudes that are directly leading to degradation and degeneration, because they are contrary to [[human nature]]. This is not going to happen. No one has ever succeeded in doing this, nor will they succeed now."<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

====Donbas war====
[[File:Azov Battalion.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Putin opposes U.S. and NATO-backed Nazis who led the Maidan coup and have killed thousands of people since 2014.]]
{{See also|Donbas war}}

====Responsibility to protect, preventative action, and collective self-defense====
{{See also|Russia-Ukraine war}}
Vladimir Putin set forth a claim under the doctrine of 'anticipatory collective self-defense' which was devised originally by the [[Clinton administration]] and NATO in regard to the 1998 [[Kosovo]] conflict,<ref>https://youtu.be/rsSB_2RShBQ</ref> as it applies to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.<ref> https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/29/russia-ukraine-the-law-of-war-crime-of-aggression/</ref> The unilateral declarations of independence by the Donbas republics are completely legal and precedented by [[the West]]'s successful demands for Kosovo to be recognized as independent from [[Serbia]], and adjudicated as such by the International Courts.<ref>https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/141</ref>

The Organization of World Peace reported in 2021, “according to Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Decree no. 117/2021, Ukraine has committed to putting all options on the table to taking back control over the Russian annexed Crimea region. Signed on March 24th, President Zelensky has committed the country to pursue strategies that . . . ‘will prepare and implement measures to ensure the de-occupation and reintegration of the peninsula.’”<ref>https://theowp.org/ukraine-declares-all-options-possible-even-war-to-retake-crimea-from-russia/</ref> Given that the residents of Crimea, most of whom are ethnic Russians, are quite happy with the current state of affairs under Russian governance – this, according to a 2020 ''[[Washington Post]]'' report – Zelensky’s threat in this regard was not only a threat against Russia itself but was also a threat of potentially massive bloodshed against a people who do not want to go back to Ukraine.<ref>https://archive.ph/5s7Cd</ref> The Donbas war represents a much more compelling case for justifying Russian intervention under the ''Responsibility to Protect'' (R2P) doctrine which has been advocated by such Western ‘humanitarians’ as [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Samantha Power]], and [[Susan Rice]], and which was relied upon to justify the NATO interventions in countries like the former [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Libya]].

In 1998, Kosovo was not a member of the United Nations, so the right of collective self-defense of member states was challenged. Kosovo was forcibly severed from a member state, [[Serbia]], by NATO and given given legal status later. Residents of Kosovo never voted by referendum to declare independence from Serbia. By established international precedents, in 2014 the residents of the [[Donetsk Republic]], the [[Lugansk Republic]], and [[Crimea]] voted to separate from [[Ukraine]]. The Russian State Duma recognized the decision of the voters and change in international borders, annexed Crimea and in 2022 signed collective security agreements with the Donetsk and Lugansk republics.

On February 24, 2022 Vladimir Putin addressed the nation and made clear the objective of the [[Special Military Operation]] in Ukraine was not [[regime change]]:
{{quotebox-float|"The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and [[genocide]] perpetrated by the Kiev regime. To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation. It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force."<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

=== Views on abortion ===
Putin rejects any constitutional right to [[abortion]], as exists in the [[United States]], but is not ready to ban abortion from [[Russia]] either. Instead, Putin has supported and enforced [[pro-life]] laws in Russian which would be invalidated by [[pro-abortion]] courts in the United States. In 2017, he said that he will allow societal (including church) views to guide him on the issue:<ref>[http://fortune.com/2017/12/14/vladimir-putin-russia-abortion-pro-choice-press-conference/ An article biased in favor of [[abortion]] but useful for its quotations]</ref>

:“In the modern world, the decision is up to the woman herself,” Putin said, and indicated that additional pro-life proposals “must be careful, considered and based on the general mood in society and the moral and ethical norms that have developed in society.”

Putin's "the decision" is an ambiguous phrase that could include the decision to have the pregnancy in the first place. Also, Putin is very pro-[[Russia]] and if thinks abortion is lowering the birth rate in a harmful way, then he could abolish it based on national interests.

===Views on wokism===
[[File:Putin popularity.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Vladimir Putin's Popularity rating rose to 83% during the Russia-Ukraine war.<ref>https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news-2022-03-30/card/putin-s-approval-rating-jumps-after-invasion-poll-shows-fm8f4uSdiVfTxORQOE0v</ref>]]
Putin told the Valdai Club in October 2021,<ref>https://www.rt.com/russia/538121-putin-children-swap-gender-monstrous/</ref>
{{quotebox-float|"We see with bemusement the process unfolding in countries that have grown accustomed to viewing themselves as the flagships of [[Progressive|progress]]. Of course it's none of our business what is happening - the social and cultural shocks that are happening in some Western countries. Some believe that aggressive blotting out of whole pages of your own history, and the requirement to renounce the traditional interpretation of such basic values as mother, father, family, and the distinction between sexes are a milestone towards a renewal of society...we have a different point of view. We believe, at least the overwhelming majority of Russian society, that we need to rely on our own spiritual values and our historical traditions.

On the culture of our multi-ethnic nation, the proponents of so-called 'social progress' believe that they are bringing a new consciousness to humanity. Something that is [[political correctness|more correct]]...The recipes they come up with are nothing new. Paradoxical as it may seem, but this is something we saw in Russia. It happened in our country before and after the [[October Revolution|1917 Revolution]]. The [[Bolshevik]]s followed the dogmas of [[Marx]] and [[Engels]]. And they also declared that they were going to change the traditional lifestyle, the political, the economic lifestyle, as well as the very notion of [[morality]], the basic principles. Fully, healthy society they were trying to destroy, century-long values. Revisiting the relationship between people. They were encouraging informing on one's own beloved and families. It was hailed as "the March of Progress" and it was very [[Popular Front|popular across the world]]. And it was supported by many.

As we see it is happening right now. Incidentally, the Bolsheviks were absolutely intolerant of other opinions different from their own. I think this should remind you of something that is happening...it is with puzzlement that we see the practices Russia used to have, and that we left behind... The fight for equality and against discrimination turns into an aggressive dogmatism on the brink of absurdity. When great authors of the past such as [[Shakespeare]] are no longer taught in
schools and universities because they did not understand the importance of gender or race.

And [[Hollywood]]. There are leaflets reminding what you should do in the films - how many personalities and actors you've got, what kind of color, what sex, and sometimes it's even stricter than what the Department of Propaganda of the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee did. And the fight against racism, which is a lofty goal, turns into [[cancel culture]] and reverse discrimination. Racism in reverse. It tears people apart. Whereas the true fighters for [[civil rights]], they were trying to eliminate those differences....[[Martin Luther King]] said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." That is a true value. ...in Russia, most of our Republics simply do not care what skin color you have. He or she, that's not that important, because each and every one of us is a human being. That's the most important thing.

The discussion about the rights of men and women has turned into a total phantasmagoria in a number of Western countries...Those who risk saying that men and women still exist, and that this is a biological fact, are virtually ostracized...And this is not new...In the 1920s, Soviet culture-warriors invented a so-called ‘[[newspeak]]’, believing that in this way they would create a new sense of consciousness and redefine people’s values...This is not to mention things that are simply monstrous, like when children are taught from an early age that a boy can easily become a girl and vice versa...In fact, they are indoctrinating them into the alleged choices that are supposedly available to everyone – removing parents from the equation and forcing the child to make decisions that can ruin their lives...This is borderline crime against humanity - all under the guise of "progress."<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6sIZ8-C1vw</ref>}}

=== Views on communism and the Soviet Union ===
[[File:Solzhenitsyn and Putin.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Russian President Vladimir Putin presents [[human rights]] activist [[Alexander Solzhenitsyn]] with an award. Solzhenitsyn set in motion the movement that toppled Soviet communism.]]
Putin famously said, "Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain."<ref>https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/vladimir_putin_452527</ref>

Putin has before called the [[Bolshevik]]s traitors for Russia's defeat in the First World War.<ref>https://www.rt.com/politics/putin-accuses-bolsheviks-treason-877/</ref> However, he has also expressed that "[he] liked Communist and socialist ideas very much and [he] like[s] them still." and compared the Soviet code of conduct to the [[Bible]].<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/russias-putin-says-he-always-liked-communist-socialist-ideas-419289</ref><ref>https://pjmedia.com/faith/tyler-o-neil/2018/01/17/putin-soviet-communism-is-very-similar-to-christianity-party-rules-are-a-bible-excerpt-n101328</ref> Putin also has compared communism with Christianity.<ref>Newman, Alex (January 16, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/28051-communism-very-similar-to-christianity-putin-claims Communism “Very Similar” to Christianity, Putin Claims]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 17, 2018.</ref> Putin has been accused by Western media of embracing the tactics of Soviet dictator [[Joseph Stalin]].<ref>https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-russia-stalin-model-20150611-story.html</ref> In addition, he implies in an interview with [[Larry King]] dated September 8, 2000 that his Christianity isn't actually sincere by stating in Russian that he "believes in the power of man" or "I believe in human beings." Though a few years later, his faith became more genuine.<ref>https://www.quora.com/Is-Vladimir-Putin-personally-religious</ref> Furthermore, around October 2017, he hosted the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students Communist event and gave a speech that strongly implied that he adhered to Communism.<ref>http://www.trevorloudon.com/2017/10/non-communist-putin-opens-major-international-communist-youth-festival/</ref><ref>http://www.trevorloudon.com/2017/07/russia-to-host-major-international-communist-youth-festival-on-putins-instructions/</ref>

Since passage of Sen. [[John McCain]]'s [[Magnitsky Act]], also known as the Russia sanctions bill which was signed into law by [[Barack Obama]] in an attempt to cripple the Russian Federation, Russia has been driven back into competition with the [[military-industrial complex]] It has provided arms and materiel to various communist groups, including [[Angola]], and has voiced a desire to reconnect with Latin America shortly before the FSLN regained power in Nicaragua and has supported [[Nicaragua]] via foreign aid, shipping tanks, and even posting a GLONASS tracking station on the Caribbean coast, alongside similar arming of North Korea.<ref>https://westernfreepress.com/is-vladimir-putin-a-communist/</ref><ref>https://www.trevorloudon.com/2017/12/is-vladimir-putin-a-communist/</ref> Putin is a close ally of the [[Venezuela]]'s Marxist Dictator [[Nicolás Maduro]] which he defends internationally.<ref>https://www.dw.com/es/la-alianza-estrat%C3%A9gica-de-maduro-y-putin/a-46618225</ref><ref>https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2019/06/06/vladimir-putin-volvio-a-respaldar-a-maduro-y-dijo-que-sus-asesores-militares-cumpliran-las-obligaciones-de-rusia-en-venezuela/</ref> He also indicated that he still keeps his KGB card while citing his contemporaries within the KGB had discarded theirs after the USSR's fall.<ref>https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/putin-his-communist-party-membership-card-i-still-keep-it-home</ref>

=== Views on Islam ===
In January 2018 Putin said that "[t]raditional Islam is an integral part of the Russian cultural code". He also vowed to support Islamic religious education.<ref>https://themoscowtimes.com/news/putin-calls-for-revival-of-islamic-education-in-russia-60276</ref>

Putin has openly endorsed the right of the Chechen people to cultural hegemony in the Chechen Federated Republic of the Russian Federation under [[Ramzan Kadyrov]].<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/03/26/putin-insists-on-russian-law-in-chechnya-while-supporting-muslim-president/</ref> Kadyrov has de facto established Islamic rule in the region and was condemned by the international community for slaughtering gay citizens.<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chechnya-ramzan-kadyrov-gay-citizens-massacre-chechen-leader-do-not-exist-russia-vladimir-putin-a7675906.html</ref> Chechen authorities have imposed a compulsory Islamic dresscode for women.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-12705300</ref>

==Critics==
Corporate media television host Sean Hannity has repeatedly issued warnings that Putin is a thug and a "bad actor" who cannot be trusted.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2018/02/16/hannity-examining-key-points-from-russian-indictments.html Hannity: Examining key points from Russian indictments]</ref>

[[Robert Kraft]], the [[NFL]] oligarch who was arrested on a morals charge in [[Florida]], accused Putin of stealing Kraft's [[Super Bowl]] ring. Putin responded that Kraft gave it to him as a gift.

==Quotes==
*"Anyone who doesn't regret the passing of the Soviet Union has no heart. Anyone who wants it restored has no brains."<ref>Parfitt, Tom (December 23, 2007). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/dec/23/russia.tomparfitt Spy who came in from the cold]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved September 15, 2018.</ref>

*“I think all sober-minded people who really are involved in politics understand that the idea of a Russian threat to, for example, the Baltics is complete madness. Are we really about to fight NATO? How many people are there in the NATO countries? About 600 million, correct? There are 146 million people in Russia. Yes, we're the biggest nuclear power. But do you really think that we're about to conquer the Baltics using nuclear weapons? What is this madness?”

*If nukes head towards Russia we are going to Paradise, but they won't have time to repent."<ref>https://youtu.be/YeNwyVG8Egs</ref>

*"Hitler tried to destroy Russia. Everyone needs to remember how that ended."

*"If you try to bite Russia, we'll knock your teeth out."

*"[[Berlusconi]] is being tried because he lives with women. If he were homosexual, no one would lift a finger against him."<ref>https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1202445</ref>

*"There is also the so-called liberal idea, which has outlived its purpose. Our Western partners have admitted that some elements of the liberal idea, such as [[multiculturalism]], are no longer tenable."<ref>https://www.ft.com/video/a49cfa25-610e-438c-b11d-5dac19619e08</ref>

==See also==
* [[Dmitri Medvedev]]
* [[Crisis in Ukraine]]
* [[Russophobia]]
* [[Oleg Deripaska]]
* [[Yelena Baturina]]

==Further reading==
* Baker, Peter, and Susan Glasser. ''Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin's Russia and the End of Revolution'' (2nd ed. 2007); [https://www.amazon.com/Kremlin-Rising-Vladimir-Revolution-Updated/dp/1597971227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256923460&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Goldman, Marshall I. ''Petrostate: Putin, Power, and the New Russia'' (2008) [https://www.amazon.com/Petrostate-Putin-Power-New-Russia/dp/0195340736/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256915128&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]
* Lucas, Edward. ''The New Cold War: Putin's Russia and the Threat to the West'' (2009) [https://www.amazon.com/New-Cold-War-Putins-Russia/dp/0230614345/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256915128&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Stuermer, Michael. ''Putin and the Rise of Russia'' (2009)
* Wegren, Stephen K., and Dale R. Herspring, eds. ''After Putin's Russia: Past Imperfect, Future Uncertain'' (4th ed. 2009) [https://www.amazon.com/After-Putins-Russia-Imperfect-Uncertain/dp/0742557855/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 excerpt and text search]
* Poleev, Andrej. [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4621093 Putinism: A Phenomenological and Prototypical Investigation.] (2012-2021).

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://putin.kremlin.ru/ Official Putin Website]
* [http://kremlin.ru/ Official President of Russia Website]
* [[David Horowitz|Horowitz, David]], [http://frontpagemag.com/2013/frontpagemag-com/putin-and-the-shadow-of-the-kgb-on-the-glazov-gang/ Putin and the shadow of the KGB on the Glazov Gang], Sherman Oaks, [[California]]: [http://www.frontpagemag.com/about/ David Horowitz Freedom Center], Published April 5, 2013.
*[https://youtu.be/cMFIWBQB1kE WATCH and LISTEN: Putin Sings Russian National Anthem With 130,000 People!] (Subtitles and lyrics in closed captioning)
*[https://youtu.be/8X7Ng75e5gQ Vladimir Pozner: How the United States Created Vladimir Putin], YaleUniversity, Oct. 2, 2018. YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Putin, Vladimir}}

[[Category:Current Heads of State]]
[[Category:Russian People]]
[[Category:Russian Political People]]
[[Category:Orthodox Christians]]
[[Category:Men]]
[[Category:Nationalists]]
[[Category:Pro-Life]]

Abimael Guzmán

2022-05-20T01:59:10Z

Conservapeta:

Manuel Rubén Abimael Guzmán Reynoso (American Spanish: [maˈnwel ruˈβen aβimaˈel ɡusˈman rejˈnoso]; 3 December 1934 − 11 September 2021), also known by his nom de guerre Chairman Gonzalo (Spanish: Presidente Gonzalo), was a Peruvian [[Maoism|Maoist]] [[terrorism|terrorist]] responsible for the death of about 30000 people from 1980 until being life inprisoned in 1992.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Guzmán was a professor of philosophy active in anti-democratic far-left politics and strongly influenced by Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism. He developed an ideology of armed struggle stressing the empowerment of the indigenous people. He went underground in the mid-1970s to become the leader of the Shining Path, which began the so-called "The Peruvian People's War" or the "Armed Struggle" on 17 May 1980, by burning ballot boxes during the 1980 elections.

{{Communism}}

[[Category:Communism]]
[[Category:Mass Murderers]]
[[Category:Communist Revolutionaries]]
[[Category:Police State]]
[[Category:Welfare State]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Atheists]]

Abimael Guzmán

2022-05-20T01:57:54Z

Conservapeta: Created page with "Manuel Rubén Abimael Guzmán Reynoso (American Spanish: [maˈnwel ruˈβen aβimaˈel ɡusˈman rejˈnoso]; 3 December 1934 − 11 September 2021), also known by his nom de g..."

Manuel Rubén Abimael Guzmán Reynoso (American Spanish: [maˈnwel ruˈβen aβimaˈel ɡusˈman rejˈnoso]; 3 December 1934 − 11 September 2021), also known by his nom de guerre Chairman Gonzalo (Spanish: Presidente Gonzalo), was a Peruvian terrorist responsible for the death of about 30000 people from 1980 until being life inprisoned in 1992.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Guzmán was a professor of philosophy active in anti-democratic far-left politics and strongly influenced by Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism. He developed an ideology of armed struggle stressing the empowerment of the indigenous people. He went underground in the mid-1970s to become the leader of the Shining Path, which began the so-called "The Peruvian People's War" or the "Armed Struggle" on 17 May 1980, by burning ballot boxes during the 1980 elections.

{{Communism}}

[[Category:Communism]]
[[Category:Mass Murderers]]
[[Category:Communist Revolutionaries]]
[[Category:Police State]]
[[Category:Welfare State]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Atheists]]

Chairman Gonzalo

2022-05-20T01:57:28Z

Conservapeta: Redirected page to Abimael Guzmán

#REDIRECT[[Abimael Guzmán]]

Chairman Gonzalo

2022-05-20T01:53:30Z

Conservapeta:

Manuel Rubén Abimael Guzmán Reynoso (American Spanish: [maˈnwel ruˈβen aβimaˈel ɡusˈman rejˈnoso]; 3 December 1934 − 11 September 2021), also known by his nom de guerre Chairman Gonzalo (Spanish: Presidente Gonzalo), was a Peruvian terrorist responsible for the death of about 30000 people from 1980 until being life inprisoned in 1992.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Guzmán was a professor of philosophy active in anti-democratic far-left politics and strongly influenced by Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism. He developed an ideology of armed struggle stressing the empowerment of the indigenous people. He went underground in the mid-1970s to become the leader of the Shining Path, which began the so-called "The Peruvian People's War" or the "Armed Struggle" on 17 May 1980, by burning ballot boxes during the 1980 elections.

{{Communism}}

[[Category:Communism]]
[[Category:Mass Murderers]]
[[Category:Communist Revolutionaries]]
[[Category:Police State]]
[[Category:Welfare State]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Atheists]]