Profile: Vladimir Putin
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E-mail Xinhua, March 5, 2012
Official results showed Monday that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin won Sunday's presidential election, obtaining a third term in the Kremlin following his two consecutive terms in 2000-2008.
Born in Russia's second largest city of Leningrad (today's St. Petersburg) on Oct. 7, 1952, Putin graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1975 and was commissioned to work in former Soviet Union's State Security Committee (KGB).
In 1985 Putin worked in East Germany as a KGB agent.
After the collapse of East Germany in 1990, Putin returned to the Soviet Union and worked as an assistant to the rector of Leningrad State University, Anatoly Sobchak.
After Sobchak was elected mayor of St. Petersburg in June 1991, Putin was appointed head of the mayor's office committee for external relations.
In March 1997, he was appointed deputy chief of Russian President Boris Yeltsin's office and head of the president's main control directorate.
In July 1998, Yeltsin appointed Putin director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the KGB.
In March 1999, while still heading the FSB, Putin was appointed secretary of the State Security Council. In August 1999, Yeltsin dismissed Sergei Stepashin, his fourth prime minister in 16 months, and replaced him with Putin. Upon Yeltsin's resignation on Dec. 31, 1999, Putin became acting president of Russia.
Putin, riding a wave of popularity for his bold military actions against Chechen rebels, his no-nonsense incorruptible image and his promise to rejuvenate the Russian nation, won the presidential election in 2000.
During his first term in the Kremlin, the stable political situation at home, steady economic growth and improvement of Russians' living standards all helped boost Putin's prestige. He was re-elected president in 2004 by a landslide.
In the 2008 presidential election, Putin endorsed then first Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as he himself was barred from a third consecutive term under Russian constitution.
After Medvedev's successful election, Putin became prime minister in the new government.
In September 2011, Putin announced that he would seek the presidency in 2012.
In his election manifesto, Putin promised to develop an innovation-oriented economy that benefits the people and implement political reforms on the basis of stability. He also called for rearmament and modernization of the Russian forces.
With regard to foreign policy, Putin advocated a multi-polar world and a bigger role of the United Nations, and opposed the expansion of the NATO.
He pledged to nominate Medvedev as prime minister in the new government if elected.
Putin is married and has two daughters. He is fond of sambo wrestling, judo and mountain skiing.
