Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin [c] (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012. Putin has held continuous positions as president or prime minister since 1999: [d] as prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012, and as president from 1999 to 2008 and since 2012. [e] [7]
Putin worked as a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel before resigning in 1991 to begin a political career in Saint Petersburg . In 1996, he moved to Moscow to join the administration of President Boris Yeltsin . He briefly served as the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and as secretary of the Security Council of Russia before being appointed prime minister in August 1999. Following Yeltsin's resignation, Putin became acting president and, in
During Putin's initial presidential tenure, the Russian economy grew on average by seven percent per year, [10] driven by economic reforms and a fivefold increase in the price of oil and gas. [11] [12] Additionally, Putin led Russia in a conflict against Chechen separatists , reestablishing federal control over the region. [13] [14] While serving as prime minister under Medvedev, he oversaw a military conflict with Georgia and enacted military and police reforms . In his third presidential term, Russia anne