Lecture Notes: Vladimir Putin

Early Life and Family

• Born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia).
• Youngest of three children; two brothers died young.
• Parents: Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin (Soviet Navy), Maria Ivanovna Putina (factory worker).
• Grandfather was a cook for Stalin and Lenin.

Education

• Attended School No. 193; started practicing sambo and judo at age 12.
• Studied at Leningrad State University, graduated in 1975 with a thesis on international law.
• Became a member of the Communist Party until its dissolution in 1991.

KGB Career

• Joined KGB in 1975, receiving training in Leningrad and later at the Yuri Andropov Red Banner Institute.
• Served in East Germany from 1985 to 1990 as a liaison officer.
• Resigned from the KGB in 1991 to start a political career.

Political Rise

• Advisor on international affairs in Saint Petersburg administration post-KGB.
• Deputy Chief of the Presidential Property Management Department in Moscow (1996).
• Appointed Director of the FSB and Secretary of the Security Council (1998-1999).
• Became acting Prime Minister in 1999, later confirmed as Prime Minister.

Presidency and Prime Ministership

• First term as President (2000–2008), with economic growth and increased state control.
• Served as Prime Minister (2008–2012) under Dmitry Medvedev.
• Returned as President in 2012, reelected in 2018 and 2024.

Foreign Policy and Conflicts

• Annexation of Crimea in 2014, leading to international sanctions.
• Military involvement in Syria and support for Assad's regime.
• Full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022; expanded sanctions and international condemnation.

Domestic Policy and Governance

• Transformation into an authoritarian system with centralization of power.
• Allegations of election fraud and suppression of political opposition.
• Enacted economic reforms and improved living standards, but faced criticism for corruption.

Personal Life

• Marriage to Lyudmila Shkrebneva in 1983, divorced in 2014; two daughters.
• Alleged relationships and children with other women.
• Public image includes sportsmanship and a personality cult.

Criticism and International Perception

• Accused of corruption, human rights violations, and censorship.
• Often criticized by Western leaders and viewed as a dictator.

Key Achievements

• Economic growth during early presidency.
• Expansion of Russian influence in former Soviet states and globally.

Recent Developments

• Reelection in 2024 amid accusations of electoral fraud.
• Warning of nuclear retaliation if attacked, maintaining a strong military stance.

Conclusion

• Putin remains a highly controversial and influential figure in both Russian and global politics.