Vladimir Putin and the mark of 17 years of leading Russia
(Baonghean.vn) - 17 years, through 2 terms as president, 1 term as prime minister and returning to the position of Kremlin boss in 2012 until now, Vladimir Putin, 65 years old, is considered by the media as the person who restored Russia's strength, not only bringing Russia's voice back to the international arena but also making it stronger.
Yet the name Putin seems to have no emotional resonance for Russians. Less than 2% of the population – a disillusioned, disillusioned class in a country mired in economic crisis, riven by oligarchs and with a tenuous international standing – put their faith in the youngest head of state at the time.
But just three years later, when the President took a hard line in the Moscow theater hostage crisis, Putin's popularity skyrocketed. And since then, the Kremlin chief's approval rating has hovered around 70-80%, a dream number for Western leaders.