69.1%

took first place out of 8 candidates

According to the candidate rankings of the Russian Public Opinion Research Center from February 19-22, February 24-26, 2018

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: TASS

Biography

Vladimir Putin was born on October 7, 1952 in Leningrad, the third child in the family. His father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, served in the navy, in the submarine fleet in the early 1930s, participated in the Great Patriotic War and was wounded. Returning from the front, his father worked as a guard at a car factory, then became a manager.

Vladimir Putin’s mother, Maria Ivanovna Shelomova, also worked at the car factory; she fought in the siege of Leningrad, and was awarded the medal “For the Defense of Leningrad.” Putin’s two older brothers were born in the mid-1930s; one died a few months after birth; the other died of diphtheria during the siege of Leningrad.

“I was born into an ordinary family, with an ordinary, simple lifestyle, which influenced my entire upbringing. I, like many other ordinary people, am a citizen of the great Russian nation.”

(Excerpt from Kremlin biography)

After the war, Vladimir Putin's family rented an apartment, and lived there until he moved to work for the KGB. The family, as Putin shared, lived a very simple, modest life.

“Every Sunday and on holidays, my mother often goes into the kitchen to make pies filled with cabbage, meat or cheese. They are wonderful.”

(Excerpt from Kremlin biography)

During his school years, according to Putin, he was a troublemaker and a bully, not a model student. He participated in martial arts clubs such as judo and karate. In particular, since his youth, he loved watching military films and dreamed of working in the national security agencies.

3 election wins

Vladimir Putin has run for election three times and won all of them.

Year 2000................................................................................... 52.94%

Year 2004................................................................................... 71.31%

2012...................................................................................... 63.6%

In 2000, while not officially affiliated with any party, Putin received support from the newly formed Edinstvo faction and won a majority in the election. In 2004, he ran in the election as an independent candidate. In 2012, he was nominated by the United Russia party.

The Road to Becoming a Spy

To become a professional spy, after graduating from high school, Vladimir Putin received a scholarship from the Director of the State Security Committee (KGB) and continued his education. It was here that he learned that to realize his dream, he needed to serve in the army or graduate from law school. Having determined his life purpose, he carefully prepared for the exam and was admitted to the Law Faculty of Leningrad State University in 1970. After 5 years of study, in 1975 he graduated from university and was recruited into the KGB.

During his time in the KGB, Putin impressed not only the organization's leaders, but also his foreign intelligence colleagues. After serving in Leningrad, Putin went to Moscow to continue his studies at the Andropov Red Army Academy.

From 1985 to 1990, the KGB transferred Putin to work in Dresden, East Germany. During this time, Putin was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, serving as a senior assistant to the head of the KGB there. After the collapse of the East German regime, Putin was recalled to the Soviet Union and returned to Leningrad, where in June 1990 he was given a position in the International Relations Department of Leningrad State University, directly reporting to the vice-rector.

In June 1991, he was appointed Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the St. Petersburg City Hall, with responsibility for strengthening international relations and foreign investment.

In 1994 he became First Vice-Chairman of St. Petersburg, a position he held until he was called to Moscow in August 1996 to take up several senior positions within Boris Nikolayevich Yelstin's second government.

He was the civilian head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) (successor to the KGB) from July 1998 to August 1999, and served as Secretary of the Security Committee from March to August 1999.

Putin said about Crimea:

“We must take the necessary measures to prevent the escalation of tensions in southeastern Ukraine. So that there are no tanks, no military conflicts between peoples with a common history of development. Therefore, behind the defense power of Crimea, there is always our army. They are always ready to fight accurately, professionally and courageously.”

Excerpt from an interview in "Look Straight" newspaper on April 18, 2014

Putin on relations with the West:

"Wrongamlohn nhyest in mstaini relationshipyescincubatea Russia vohi phuhWesterners are completely us.sett niyesI believe inriddlei phuhng. Ngyesclyesi, wrong laMCincubatea phuhWesterners areDbiunmarketablen niyesI believeDhas become syesyunmarketableuDustaini, see thuhng and lbelchidmoundit"

Excerpt from Putin's speech at the meeting of the Valdai International Political Discussion Club on October 19, 2017

"Heavy mission"

In 1996, Vladimir Putin moved to Moscow with his family and served as Deputy Director of the President's Office, overseeing the administration of laws and issues related to foreign assets. Since March 2017, he has been Deputy Director of the Russian President's Main Control Office.

During the period from May to July 1998, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation. In July 1998, Putin was appointed Director of the Federal Security Service.

In August 1999, then-Russian President Yeltsin appointed Putin as Prime Minister, making him Russia's fifth prime minister in less than eighteen months. When he was appointed, few believed that Putin, a decidedly unknown figure, would last longer in office than his predecessors.

"On December 31, 1999, at the moment of New Year's Eve, Boris Yeltsin said his historic words: "I'm tired, I'm resigning" and appointed Vladimir Putin as President (acting), becoming the second president of the Russian Federation. According to Mr. Putin, it was very difficult for him to make a decision, because this was a "heavy mission".

(Excerpt from Kremlin biography)

Vladimir Putin served as President for two terms: 2000-2004 and 2004-2008. Then, from 2008 to 2012, he served as Prime Minister of Russia. He has continued to serve as the leader of Russia since 2012.

“On the one hand, it’s destiny, which makes you devote all your strength to your country. And it would be silly for me to say “no” and start a business selling seeds or practicing law. And, how it happened next, everyone knows.”

(Excerpt from Kremlin biography)

Hobbies and talents

Judo: One of Putin's favorite sports is judo. He is currently a black belt and is best at Harai Goshi, a hip throw. He also has a black belt in Karate and enjoys boxing.

Hockey: participated in the Night Hockey League in 2011.

Dogs, leopards, and other animals:Putin has issued a decree banning the hunting of squirrels and baby animals.

Go fishing:Putin enjoys fishing in Tuva. He is also fond of scuba diving.

Adventure racing: Putin once competed in Formula 1 racing on a special track in Sochi

Play the piano:Putin is a music lover and enjoys playing the piano. The press believes that, in addition to being a talented leader, Putin is also an elegant artist when sitting at the piano.

Speak German as a native language and know English

Private life

Vladimir Putin rarely talks about his family. He is married for 30 years to Lyudmila Putina, a former flight attendant and German teacher. They have two daughters, Maria (born 1985) and Yekaterina (born 1986).

“Ignoring rumors, my daughters live in Moscow, and so do my grandchildren. They live a life like ordinary people. My children are all engaged in scientific research and education.”

(Excerpt from "Speak Straight", June 15, 2017)

Putin once shared that, as a grandfather in the family, he did not want his grandchildren to "grow up as princes".

“I want the children to grow up like other normal children, because they need to communicate and play with friends of the same age. If I reveal their names and ages, they will immediately be noticed, lose their freedom, and even be isolated. This greatly affects the development of a child.”