Vladimir Putin, the current President of Russia. Not many people know about him, let’s take a look of his life and his struggle, how he came to achieve all these and became one of the most powerful people in the whole world. His full name is ‘Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin’, born on October 7, 1952, at Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.

His mother was a factory worker, whereas his father was in the Soviet Navy, serving in the Submarine fleet. His father also served during World War II. Putin started his basic education on September 1, 1960, at School No. 193 at Baskov Lane. He even started learning ‘Sambo’ and ‘Judo’ at the age of 12 years. And very few people might be knowing that he is a Black Belt in Judo and a National Master in Sambo. He even speaks fluent German and learned the German Language at ‘Saint Petersburg High School 281’. He is even a Law Graduate from the Leningrad State University in 1975.

In 1975, as well, he joined Intelligence Service known as ‘KGB’ and trained at 401st KGB School in Okhta, Leningrad. Initially, he worked as the Second Chief Directorate and later promoted to First Chief Director in the Intelligence Service of Russia. He even served as the as a Translator in Germany using an Identity Cover from 1985 to 1990. After returning back, he took a keen interest in Politics and made his friendship with the Mayor of Leningrad and then resigned from the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on August 20, 1991.

However, on June 28, 1991, at Mayor’s Office, he became the head of the Committee for External Relations. He remained the Head of the Committee for External Relations till 1996. In addition to this, from the period of 1994 to 1996, he served many Political and Governmental positions in Saint Petersburg. Like, initially in 1994, he was appointed as the First Deputy Chairman of the Government of Saint Petersburg. Likewise, his political career was blooming with each passing day.

Afterward, on March 26, 1997, the President of Russia ‘Boris Yeltsin’ appointed Putin as the Deputy Chief of the Presidential Staff, and he held the post till May 1998. Later, on August 9, 1999, he was appointed as one of the three First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, under the acting President ‘Boris Yeltsin’. The President was so much impressed with him that he even announced that he wanted to see Putin as his successor.

Unexpectedly, Yeltsin the then President of Russia resigned from his post, and according to the Constitution of Russia, Putin became the Acting President of the Russian Federation. But very soon, some charges of corruption against him came up and all these resulted in the elections. So, in March 2000, the elections were held and Putin won in the first with about 53% of the casted votes.  

In this way, Putin has been welcomed in Russian Politics as the President on May 7, 2000. He appointed ‘Mikhail Kasyanov’ as the Prime Minister of Russia. However, his work was so much liked by people such that, he came for the second term as well. On March 14, 2004, he was elected for the Presidency for the second term and receives about 71% of votes. But the second phase of his Presidency came under various allegations, due to which in September 2007, he dissolved the government over the request of Prime Minister ‘Mikhail Fradkov’.

All these issues barred him to constitute election third time in a row. Then Dimitry Medvedev succeeded him and Putin was appointed as the Prime Minister of Russia. This helped him to maintain his dominance in Russian Politics. After all this, he again became the President of Russia and still continuing with the Presidency.