View source for Vladimir Putin

{{Infobox Living Person
|name             = Vladimir Putin
|image            = Putin.jpg
|nationality      = {{Russians|[[Russia]]}} (born in the {{Soviets|[[Soviet Union]]}})
|religion         = {{EasternOrthodox|[[Eastern Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]]}}, {{ConvertOTL|converted}} from official {{Atheist|atheism}} during his youth
|birth            = {{1950s Births OTL|1952}}
|occupation       = Politician, {{Soldier|Soldier}}, Spy
|spouse           = Lyudmila Shkrebneva ({{DivorcedPeopleOTL|[[divorce]]d 2014}})
|children         = Mariya, Yekaterina
|military branch  = {{Chekists|[[KGB]]}} (1975-1991)
|political office = {{HOSRussia|{{President|President}} of Russia}} (2000-2008; 2012 to present)<br>{{HeadGovtAsia|{{HeadGovtEuropeOTL|{{Prime Minister}}}}}} of Russia (2008-2012){{DictatorOTL}}
|political party  = United Russia (2008 to present)<br>Independent (1991-2008)<br>
{{CommunistPartyUSSROTL|[[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]]}} (until 1991)}}'''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (Влади́мир Пу́тин)''' (born 7 October 1952) was the second President of the [[Russia|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 2024, Putin retained the presidency after a sham election in March, 2024, his fifth term overall. His primary opponent, Navalny, died in prison the month before.  

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. 

In February 2022, Putin launched an illegal invasion of [[Ukraine]] in the face of significant domestic criticism and near-unanimous condemnation from world leaders. This has resulted in diplomatic isolation for his regime and needless economic hardship for his subjects. On Putin's orders, his largely demoralized and underequipped troops have carried out war crimes and atrocities, including the deliberate targeting of civilian populations. However, in the face of Ukrainian defiance and heroism, the Russian military has thus far proven unable to give Putin the quick victory he so desperately craves. The editors of this wiki commend the Ukrainians' acts of heroism in the strongest possible terms and look forward to inevitable Russian defeat.

==Vladimir Putin in "[[The Breaking of Nations]]" ==
{{Clearright}}{{The Breaking of Nations Historical Character
|type of appearance=Direct (via television/internet){{DictatorATL}}}}[[Russia (The Breaking of Nations)|Russian]] President '''Vladimir Putin''' was instrumental the election of [[President of the United States (The Breaking of Nations)|President]] [[Donald Trump (The Breaking of Nations)|Donald Trump]] in 2016 and his re-election in 2020.<ref>''[[And the Last Trump Shall Sound]]'', pg. 71, loc. 1071, ebook.</ref>  At Putin's direction, Trump laid the foundation for increased right-wing authoritarianism in the [[United States (The Breaking of Nations)|United States]], which in turn lead to the eventual dismemberment of the country.<ref>Ibid., pg. 5-83, loc. 24-1260, ebook.</ref>. Trump didn't live to see the break-down; he died in the second [[COVID-19 (The Breaking of Nations)|COVID-19]] outbreak in 2024.<ref>Ibid., pg. 12, loc. 24.</ref> However, his successor, [[Mike Pence (The Breaking of Nations)|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 (The Breaking of Nations)|Pacifica]]. Pence attempted to thwart the secession until Putin himself recognized Pacifica and established diplomatic relations. He also essentially ordered Pence to do the same thing.<ref>Ibid., pg 80, loc. 1202.</ref>

Putin had no affinity for the professed ideals of Pacifica. He simply wanted to further hobble the U.S.

==Vladimir Putin in ''[[The Gladiator (novel)|The Gladiator]]''==
{{Clearright}}{{The Gladiator Historical Character
|death           = {{21stCenturyDeathsFictional|c. 2027}}
|cause of death  = {{DeathUnknownFictional|Unrevealed}}
|nationality     = [[Soviet Union (The Gladiator)|Soviet Union]]
|political office = {{USSRLeaderATL|[[Leader of the Soviet Union (The Gladiator)|General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union]]}}}}At the turn of the 21st century, '''Vladimir Putin''' (1952-''c.''2027) [[Leader of the Soviet Union (The Gladiator)|led]] the [[Soviet Union (The Gladiator)|Soviet Union]] to its ultimate victory in the [[Cold War (The Gladiator)|Cold War]].<ref>This is never specifically stated, but is very strongly implied.</ref> Nearly 70 years after his death, Putin was remembered as one of the great leaders of Soviet [[Communism (The Gladiator)|communism]], along with [[Vladimir Lenin (The Gladiator)|Vladimir Lenin]] and [[Joseph Stalin (The Gladiator)|Joseph Stalin]]. For example, images of the three leaders were worn on the uniforms of the [[Young Socialists' League]] of [[Hoxha Polytechnic]] in [[Milan (The Gladiator)|Milan]], [[Italian People's Republic]].<ref>''[[The Gladiator (novel)|The Gladiator]]'', pg. 8, HC.</ref> Putin's image appeared in other contexts, as well: a statue commemorating Putin stood in front of the [[Duomo (The Gladiator)|Duomo of Milan]]. People called him "Old Pointy Nose."<ref>Ibid., pg. 11.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Mikhail Gorbachev]], the final [[Leader of the Soviet Union]] in [[OTL]]. In 1991, Gorbachev used his office to help ensure a peaceful end to the [[Cold War]], completely dismantling the [[Soviet Union]] in the process. In later life, Gorbachev criticized the war crimes of Putin, who responded by denying Gorbachev a state funeral.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{| class="navbox mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%; margin:auto;border:1px solid gray;"
|-
! style="background:#ccf;"|Titles and Succession
|-
|
{{S-start}}
{{S-off}}
{{Succession box
 |before=Boris Yeltsin
 |title=President of [[Russia]] 
 |years=2000-2008 (Acting 1999-2000)
 |after=Dmitry Medvedev
}}
{{Succession box
 |before=Viktor Zubkov
 |title=Prime Minister of Russia
 |years=2008-2012
 |after=Viktor Zubkov (acting)
{{s-bef|before=Dmitry Medvedev}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of Russia|years=2012–present}}
{{s-inc}}
}}
{{S-offTBN}}
{{s-bef|before=Dmitry Medvedev}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of Russia<br>("[[The Breaking of Nations]]")|years=2012–?}}
{{s-aft|after=Incubment at story's end, 2031}}
{{S-ppoATL}}
{{Succession box
 |before=Unknown;<br><small>Last known is</small><br>[[Joseph Stalin (The Gladiator)|Joseph Stalin]]
 |title=[[Leader of the Soviet Union (The Gladiator)|General Secretary]] of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union (The Gladiator)|Communist Party]] of the [[Soviet Union (The Gladiator)|Soviet Union]]<br>(''[[The Gladiator (novel)|The Gladiator]]'')
 |years=1995-2027<br><small>(dates estimated)</small>
 |after=Successors unnamed}}
{{end}}
|}
{{The Breaking of Nations}}
{{The Gladiator}}
{{Leaders of the USSR}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Putin, Vladimir}}
[[Category:Adulterers]]
[[Category:People Born in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Fascist Rulers (OTL)]]