Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (Влади́мир Пу́тин) (born 7 October 1952) was the second President of the Russian Federation, serving from 2000 to 2008. After leaving the Presidency in 2008 due to term limits, he became Prime Minister, where he continued to exert considerable power over the country.
Critics accuse Putin of eroding democracy in Russia and destabilizing Eastern Europe by pursuing an aggressive, militaristic foreign policy. On the other hand, the consensus is that Putin's economic policies were critical in pulling Russia out of a substantial crisis. During his time as President, Putin has accumulated substantial power to himself and a select few allies, establishing an authoritarian oligarchy. Putin has also taken steps, both legal and extralegal, to stifle dissent and criticism.
Despite some outcry from the Russian people, Putin won his bid for a third term in March 2012. He won a second consecutive term, and a fourth term overall, in the 2018 elections, carrying some 75% of the overall vote. Several would-be candidates were barred from running, most notably Alexei Navalny, Putin's most ardent critic.
In 2016, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency determined that Putin's government interfered in the national election that year. Russia's actions favored the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States, although direct hacking has not been proven. Moreover, Trump himself has rejected the notion that Russia interfered, primarily because Putin vehemently denies it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was instrumental the election of PresidentDonald Trump in 2016 and his re-election in 2020.[1] At Putin's direction, Trump laid the foundation for increased right-wing authoritarianism in the United States, which in turn lead to the eventual dismemberment of the country.[2]. Trump didn't live to see the break-down; he died in the second COVID-19 outbreak in 2024.[3] However, his successor, Mike Pence, was also completely in Putin's grasp. Pence expanded the authoritarian state. In 2031, the states of the west coast of U.S. broke away and formed the new country of Pacifica. Pence attempted to thwart the succession until Putin himself recognized Pacifica and established diplomatic relations. He also essentially ordered Pence to do the same thing.[4]
Putin had no affinity for the professed ideals of Pacifica. He simply wanted to further hobble the U.S.
