Putin: Spy Who Became Russian President


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Vladimir Putin has registered a record win in the Russian presidential election, securing over 87 per cent of votes

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If he completes another full term, Putin, 71, will overtake Joseph Stalin and become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years

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Putin joined the KGB in 1975, straight after college, where he studied law

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He started his political career in the mayor's office in 1991

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In 1998, he was appointed as the head of Russia's security service by Russia's first president Boris Yeltsin

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In 1999, Yeltsin sacked his prime minister and replaced him with Putin, then 46

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When Yeltsin resigned a few months later, Putin became acting president. He won his first presidential election in March 2000 and a second term in 2004

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Putin gained popularity by promising stability to Russia, which was reeling from economic chaos following the collapse of Soviet Union

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After two stints as president, Putin switched back to being Prime Minister in 2008, as the constitution didn't allow a third consecutive term

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He returned to the presidency in 2012 and won a fourth term in 2018

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His grip on power tightened further after he ordered Russian troops to invade Ukraine in February 2022

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