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|terms=December 31, 1999–May 1999 – May 7, 2008 (first)<br>May 7, 2012– 2012 – (second) |vp=[[Dmitry Medvedev]]

'''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Владимир Владимирович Путин) (born October 7, 1952) was reelected is the socially [[conservative]] president of the [[Russian Federation]] in , 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, the day <ref>[[Boris Yeltsin]] resigned from the presidency.<ref>on that day, and Putin was later elected president by 54% of the electorate on March 26, 2000.</ref> Putin has 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>

A self-described [[Christian]], Putin leads the increasingly [[conservative]] [[Russia]] against the [[homosexual agenda]] and towards [[pro-life]] side. Much of the criticism of Liberals criticize Putin and [[Russia]] by [[liberal]]s in the [[United States]] is motivated by their opposition to Russian policies 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 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>

However, Putin has made many controversial statements on [[Communism]] and has a good attitude towards [[Islam]]. [[Alexander Dugin]] argues:<ref>http://www.aspeninstitute.it/aspenia-online/article/russian-conservative-view-putin-interview-alexander-dugin</ref>

[[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 bullying and military strength, 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>httphttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32860526</ref>

In March 2018, Putin unveiled his re-vamped revamped nuclear missile program, and used the opportunity which was interpreted as a challenge to threaten the United States of America and the Western World.<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>

Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952 and . He was baptized as an Orthodox Christian and continue to be a member to this day. 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.

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 diastase 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 religion without , 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 permitluxurious property,prevents family members from seeking medical treatment).<ref>http://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2197s</ref> which I Not having a permit is why a Baptist pastor got in troubleheavily fined.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/russia-persecution-christians-intensifies-putin-cant-be-trusted-experts-warn-184255/</ref>Blasphemy 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>

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''. The As a centrist party , it usually reflects the political views of Putin, which are that of moderate [[conservatism]] 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>

Putin is an active interventionist, which brought Russia back on the world stage since the fall of the [[Soviet Union]], this is one of the most important reasons why [[Cold War]] features takes back, especially with the [[United States]] which is the only world superpower after the end of the Cold War.<ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-07/putins-back-on-the-world-stage/4415318</ref> 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>

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>[httphttps://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438381,00.html Russian Lawyer in Slain Journalist Case Says She, Family Poisoned] AP, October 15, 2008</ref>

Conservatives such as Sean Hannity have repeately issued warnings that Putin is a thug and a "bad actor" who cannot be trusted.<ref>[httphttps://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2018/02/16/hannity-examining-key-points-from-russian-indictments.html Hannity: Examining key points from Russian indictments]</ref>

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>[httphttps://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>[httphttps://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>httphttps://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 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>[httphttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43248794 Why would Putin want to nuke Florida?]</ref>

As someone who rules in the style of the czars, Putin has before called the [[Bolshevik]]s traitors for Russia’s 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> 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 was accused of embracing the tactics of Soviet dictator [[Joseph Stalin]].<ref>httphttps://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." 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. Similarly, he also had 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>

Putin has openly endorsed his Muslim puppet dictator in [[Chechnya]], [[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 [[Sharia]] law 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>httphttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-12705300</ref>

* Baker, Peter, and Susan Glasser. ''Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin's Russia and the End of Revolution'' (2nd ed. 2007); [httphttps://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) [httphttps://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) [httphttps://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]

* Wegren, Stephen K., and Dale R. Herspring, eds. ''After Putin's Russia: Past Imperfect, Future Uncertain'' (4th ed. 2009) [httphttps://www.amazon.com/After-Putins-Russia-Imperfect-Uncertain/dp/0742557855/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 excerpt and text search]