The Putin Presidency Quiz

Vladimir Putin has been the President of Russia since 1999, with the exception of a four-year period as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012. He served as a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years before beginning his political career in Saint Petersburg. During his first presidency, the Russian economy grew on average by seven percent per year, and he led Russia during a war against Chechen separatists. As prime minister under Dmitry Medvedev, he oversaw a war against Georgia and military and police reform. During his third term as president, Russia annexed Crimea and sponsored a war in eastern Ukraine, resulting in international sanctions and a financial crisis in Russia. He also ordered a military intervention in Syria to support Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war. During his fourth term as president, he launched a large invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, provoking international condemnation and significantly expanding sanctions. In September 2022, he announced a partial mobilisation and forcibly annexed four Ukrainian oblasts into Russia. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes in connection to his alleged criminal responsibility for illegal child abductions during the war. Putin's rule has been characterized by democratic backsliding and a shift to authoritarianism, with endemic corruption and widespread human rights violations. He is the second-longest currently serving European president, after Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. Putin studied law at Leningrad State University and received his Ph.D. in economics at the Saint Petersburg Mining University. He joined the KGB in 1975 and served in the Second Chief Directorate (counterintelligence) before being transferred to the First Chief Directorate, where he monitored foreigners and consular officials in Leningrad. In September 1984, Putin was sent to Moscow for further training at the Yuri Andropov Red Banner Institute. Putin was appointed as an advisor on international affairs to the mayor of Leningrad Anatoly Sobchak in May 1990 and became head of the Committee for External Relations of the Mayor's Office in June 1991. He moved to Moscow in 1996 and was appointed as deputy chief of the Presidential Property Management Department headed by Pavel Borodin. He was appointed First Deputy Chief of the Presidential Staff for the regions in May 1998 and director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in July 1998. Putin was appointed acting prime minister of the Government of the Russian Federation on 9 August 1999, and later that day was appointed prime minister. On his appointment, few expected Putin, virtually unknown to the general public, to last any longer than his predecessors.Overview of Putin's Presidency

• Putin's popularity rose after the September 1999 Russian apartment bombings and the invasion of Dagestan by mujahideen, leading to his election as Acting President of the Russian Federation in 1999.

• He won the presidential election in 2000 with 53% of the vote and focused on the reconstruction of the impoverished country, reaching a 'grand bargain' with oligarchs that allowed them to maintain most of their powers in exchange for their support for Putin's government.

• Putin's popularity remained high despite criticism for his alleged mishandling of the Kursk submarine disaster in 2000 and the Moscow theater hostage crisis in 2002.

• He won a second presidential term in 2004, but his presidency was marked by the continued criminal prosecution of the wealthiest man in Russia, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and the death of journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006.

• Putin was barred from a third consecutive term by the Constitution, so he became Prime Minister of Russia in 2008 and continued to dominate politics.

• He won the 2012 Russian presidential election in the first round with 63.6% of the vote, despite accusations of vote-rigging, and faced protests from opposition groups, including the notorious Pussy Riot performance.

• Putin's presidency was marked by stricter legislation against the LGBT community and the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which escalated into the Russo-Ukrainian War.

• In October 2014, Putin addressed Russian security concerns in Sochi at the Valdai International Discussion Club, and in November 2014, the Ukrainian military reported intensive movement of troops and equipment from Russia into the separatist-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine.The Life and Presidency of Vladimir Putin

• Putin's rise to power began in 1999 when he became Prime Minister of Russia, and he was elected President in 2000.

• Putin's foreign policy has been marked by Russian military intervention in conflicts in Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria.

• In 2016, the US intelligence community assessed with high confidence that Putin personally ordered an influence campaign to interfere in the US presidential election, initially to denigrate Hillary Clinton and later to support Donald Trump.

• Putin won the 2018 Russian presidential election with over 76% of the vote, beginning his fourth term as president.

• Putin's domestic policies have aimed at creating a vertical power structure and a "sovereign democracy".

• Putin's presidency has been marked by the suppression of political opposition and the media, including the assassination of journalists and opposition figures.

• In 2020, Putin suggested major constitutional amendments that could extend his political power after presidency, and he signed an executive order to officially insert amendments into the Russian Constitution, allowing him to run for two additional six-year terms.

• Putin met with Iran President Ebrahim Raisi in January 2022 to lay the groundwork for a 20-year trade deal between the two nations.

• In February 2022, Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, citing a purpose of "denazification" and claiming to be protecting Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine.

• The invasion was met with international condemnation and led to numerous calls for Putin to be pursued with war crime charges.

• In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin's arrest, alleging that Putin held criminal responsibility in the illegal deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia during the invasion.

• Putin's administration has been accused of suppressing political opposition and media, including the assassination of journalists and opposition figures.Overview of Putin's Policies and Actions

• Putin's government policies prioritize popular support within Russia and resist external influence.

• Putin's rule since 2012 is best described as "manual management," prioritizing financial stability.

• Putin has taken actions to prevent separatist tendencies and organized crime, including dismissing heads of federal subjects and replacing direct elections with nominations.

• Putin's first term in office saw opposition to Yeltsin-era business oligarchs and political opponents, resulting in exile or imprisonment of some individuals.

• Putin implemented reforms in state security, police, and military during Medvedev's presidency.

• Putin's economic policy can be divided into four periods, with substantial growth during his first eight years in office due to the commodities boom and industry growth.

• Putin has launched industry consolidation programs, including United Aircraft Corporation and gas supply deals with China.

• Putin has sought to increase Russia's territorial claims in the Arctic and modernize the Russian Armed Forces.

• Putin has promoted conservative policies in social, cultural, and political matters and collaborated closely with the Russian Orthodox Church.

• Putin has faced criticism for restricting freedom of the press and repressing political activists and minority groups, including LGBT+ and religious minorities.

• Putin has led successful efforts to host international sporting events in Russia, including the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.