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Vladimir Putin (b. 1952) is the current (as of February 2025) President of Russia. He was an officer of the Committee for State Security (KGB) in the 1980s, the Deputy Mayor of Saint Petersburg in 1994, and then was appointed the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in 1998. He was hand-chosen as Boris Yeltsin’s successor following the latter’s impeachment, to the surprise of many, but proved himself during the Chechnya conflict and was elected President in 2000 (most likely fraudulently). Even this early on in his rule, many commentators predicted that he would be authoritarian, and he proved these commentators correct.
Putin’s rule has been characterized by a mix of old-school and modern policies, as can be seen in his use of propaganda. He uses classic tactics such as repression and suppression of information as well as spreading “soft power” across the world with Russian propaganda via television and the internet. However, instead of the defined, concrete headlines used in many past authoritarian regimes, Putin focuses on the spread of misinformation and confusion to escape criticism and accountability. He has much to be accountable for, including his use of criminal prosecution to extort wealth and assets from Russian businesses, money laundering with the aid of foreign allies, and the violent treatment of resistance both within and without Russia.
Culturally, Putin promotes a return to tradition and has allied himself with the Eastern Orthodox Church, encouraging traditional families and increased birthrates while making Russia hostile toward LGBTQ+ individuals. He also promotes expansion into Western territory, as seen in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
