Difference between revisions of "Vladimir Putin"
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'''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Владимир Владимирович Путин) (born October 7, 1952) is the [[prime minister]] of the [[Russian Federation]] (since May 8, 2008). He previously was [[president]] of Russia, assuming that office as acting president on December 31, 1999, the day [[Boris Yeltsin]] resigned from the presidency. Putin was later elected president by approximately 52.94 percent of the Russian electorate on March 26, 2000. He 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''. The party usually reflects the political views of Putin, which are that of moderate conservatism and nationalism. On March 14, 2004, he was elected to a second term as president with 71 percent of the vote. Barred from a third term by the Russian constitution, Putin ceded the presidency to [[Dmitry Medvedev]] on May 7, 2008. | '''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Владимир Владимирович Путин) (born October 7, 1952) is the [[prime minister]] of the [[Russian Federation]] (since May 8, 2008). He previously was [[president]] of Russia, assuming that office as acting president on December 31, 1999, the day [[Boris Yeltsin]] resigned from the presidency. Putin was later elected president by approximately 52.94 percent of the Russian electorate on March 26, 2000. He 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''. The party usually reflects the political views of Putin, which are that of moderate conservatism and nationalism. On March 14, 2004, he was elected to a second term as president with 71 percent of the vote. Barred from a third term by the Russian constitution, Putin ceded the presidency to [[Dmitry Medvedev]] on May 7, 2008. | ||
| − | + | ==Background== | |
| − | Putin | + | Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952 and was baptized as an Orthodox Christian and continue to be a member to this day. He was educated in law and economics at Leningrad State University before being assigned to work in the [[GRU]].<ref>[http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20090821.aspx Killing The KGB Myth], |
| + | August 21, 2009.</ref> After five years in [[East Germany]], he took up various political positions before becoming [[prime minister]] in 1999. | ||
He is married to Lyudmila Putina since July 28, 1983 (former airline stewardess). They have two daughters. | He is married to Lyudmila Putina since July 28, 1983 (former airline stewardess). They have two daughters. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==In power== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Putin is seen as an antagonist to the West; his presidency has become increasingly authoritarian and opponents are murdered. It is certain that his military alliance with China, his rigged election system, nationalized oil, weapons sales to Iran Venezuala and the invasion of Georgia, are a real threat to a new Cold War. Putin has complete control of Russia's future, as a [[dictator]] would. For example, on April 14, 2007, 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>http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL03585550._CH_.2400</ref> Despite these political trends, 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. <ref>''Time Magazine'', February 26, 2007</ref> 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> 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>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438381,00.html Russian Lawyer in Slain Journalist Case Says She, Family Poisoned] AP, October 15, 2008</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Relations with U.S.== | ||
| + | |||
| + | In February 2009 while the United States Congress debated [[President Barack Obama]]'s [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|economic stimulus package]], Putin suggested the [[United States]] learn from Russian history and not exercise "excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state’s omnipotence". Speaking to Putin the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Putin said, | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{Cquote|In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state’s role absolute... In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated.../.Nor should we turn a blind eye to the fact that the spirit of free enterprise, including the principle of personal responsibility of businesspeople, investors, and shareholders for their decisions, is being eroded in the last few months. There is no reason to believe that we can achieve better results by shifting responsibility onto the state.<ref>[http://www.therightperspective.org/2009/02/11/putin-warns-us-about-socialsm/ Putin Warns US About Socialism], The Right Perspective.</ref>}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | President Barack Obama, who did not know Putin's position in the Russian government,<ref>[http://digg.com/politics/Obama_Doesn_t_Know_Who_Russia_s_President_Is Obama Doesn't Know Who Russia's President Is], [[Reuters]], July 6 1009.</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/weekinreview/02barry.html?_r=1 America Hears a Gaffe, Russia Sees a Plot], Ellen Berry, ''[[New York Times]'', August 1, 2009.</ref> told the ''[[Associated Press]]'', Putin needs to understand "that the old [[Cold War]] approaches to U.S.-Russian relations is outdated, that it's time to move forward in a different direction." Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded, "Such a point of view has nothing to do with a true understanding of Putin....By all appearances he does not have full information about [Putin's] views."<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/07/03/obama-putin-interview145.html Obama wrong about Putin], CBC News, July 3, 2009.</ref> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 19:37, August 22, 2009
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (Russian: Владимир Владимирович Путин) (born October 7, 1952) is the prime minister of the Russian Federation (since May 8, 2008). He previously was president of Russia, assuming that office as acting president on December 31, 1999, the day Boris Yeltsin resigned from the presidency. Putin was later elected president by approximately 52.94 percent of the Russian electorate on March 26, 2000. He 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. The party usually reflects the political views of Putin, which are that of moderate conservatism and nationalism. On March 14, 2004, he was elected to a second term as president with 71 percent of the vote. Barred from a third term by the Russian constitution, Putin ceded the presidency to Dmitry Medvedev on May 7, 2008.
Background
Putin was born in Leningrad on October 7, 1952 and was baptized as an Orthodox Christian and continue to be a member to this day. He was educated in law and economics at Leningrad State University before being assigned to work in the GRU.[1] After five years in East Germany, he took up various political positions before becoming prime minister in 1999.
He is married to Lyudmila Putina since July 28, 1983 (former airline stewardess). They have two daughters.
In power
Putin is seen as an antagonist to the West; his presidency has become increasingly authoritarian and opponents are murdered. It is certain that his military alliance with China, his rigged election system, nationalized oil, weapons sales to Iran Venezuala and the invasion of Georgia, are a real threat to a new Cold War. Putin has complete control of Russia's future, as a dictator would. For example, on April 14, 2007, Russian riot police beat a number of protesters and journalists at an anti-Putin rally at Pushkin Square in Moscow, [2] and Putin rigged national elections for his party [3] Despite these political trends, Putin remains popular in Russia[4]. Since coming to power, Putin has expanded Russia's economy and reduced inflation. [5] The majority of Russians are relatively uninterested in politics outside of issues affecting their personal prosperity. [6] 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". [7] Politkovskaya, an outspoken critic of Putin, was assassinated in 2006 [8], 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. [9]
Relations with U.S.
In February 2009 while the United States Congress debated President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package, Putin suggested the United States learn from Russian history and not exercise "excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state’s omnipotence". Speaking to Putin the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Putin said,
| “ | In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state’s role absolute... In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated.../.Nor should we turn a blind eye to the fact that the spirit of free enterprise, including the principle of personal responsibility of businesspeople, investors, and shareholders for their decisions, is being eroded in the last few months. There is no reason to believe that we can achieve better results by shifting responsibility onto the state.[10] | ” |
President Barack Obama, who did not know Putin's position in the Russian government,[11][12] told the Associated Press, Putin needs to understand "that the old Cold War approaches to U.S.-Russian relations is outdated, that it's time to move forward in a different direction." Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded, "Such a point of view has nothing to do with a true understanding of Putin....By all appearances he does not have full information about [Putin's] views."[13]
See also
References
- ↑ Killing The KGB Myth, August 21, 2009.
- ↑ The Economist, April 21, 2007
- ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL03585550._CH_.2400
- ↑ http://www.levada.ru/prezident.html Putin's Approval Ratings
- ↑ Time Magazine, February 26, 2007
- ↑ The Economist, April 21, 2007
- ↑ Politkovskaya, Anna. Putin's Russia. London: Harvill Press, 2004
- ↑ http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1819666.ece
- ↑ Russian Lawyer in Slain Journalist Case Says She, Family Poisoned AP, October 15, 2008
- ↑ Putin Warns US About Socialism, The Right Perspective.
- ↑ Obama Doesn't Know Who Russia's President Is, Reuters, July 6 1009.
- ↑ America Hears a Gaffe, Russia Sees a Plot, Ellen Berry, [[New York Times], August 1, 2009.
- ↑ Obama wrong about Putin, CBC News, July 3, 2009.