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 power, not only bringing Russia's voice back to the international arena but also making it stronger.
Yet the name Putin seems to evoke no emotion in 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 leader of the time.
But just three years later, when the President took a hard line in the Moscow theater hostage crisis, Putin's popularity soared. Since then, the Kremlin chief's approval rating has hovered around 70-80%, a dream number for Western leaders.
