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[[Image:Vladtheimpaler.jpg|right|thumb|Vladimir Putin]]

[[Image:Vladtheimpaler.jpg|right|thumb|Vladimir Putin]]

'''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' (''Russian'': Владимир Владимирович Путин) (born October 7, 1952) is the [[prime minister]] of the [[Russian Federation]] (since May 8, 2008). He previously was [[president]] of Russia, assuming that office as acting president on December 31, 1999, the day [[Boris Yeltsin]] resigned from the presidency. Putin was later elected president by approximately 52.94 percent of the Russian electorate on March 26, 2000. He is mainly backed by the [[United Russia]] (''Единая Россия'') party, which currently holds a majority in the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, known as the ''Duma''.  The party usually reflects the political views of Putin, which are that of moderate conservatism and nationalism. On March 14, 2004, he was elected to a second term as president with 71 percent of the vote. Barred from a third term by the Russian constitution, Putin ceded the presidency to [[Dmitry Medvedev]] on May 7, 2008.  

'''Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Владимир Владимирович Путин) (born October 7, 1952) is the [[prime minister]] of the [[Russian Federation]] (since May 8, 2008). He previously was [[president]] of Russia, assuming that office as acting president on December 31, 1999, the day [[Boris Yeltsin]] resigned from the presidency. Putin was later elected president by approximately 52.94 percent of the Russian electorate on March 26, 2000. He is mainly backed by the [[United Russia]] (''Единая Россия'') party, which currently holds a majority in the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, known as the ''Duma''.  The party usually reflects the political views of Putin, which are that of moderate conservatism and nationalism. On March 14, 2004, he was elected to a second term as president with 71 percent of the vote. Barred from a third term by the Russian constitution, Putin ceded the presidency to [[Dmitry Medvedev]] on May 7, 2008.  

Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952 and was baptized as an Orthodox Christian and continue to be a member to this day.  He was educated in law and economics at Leningrad State University before being assigned to work in the [[KGB]].  After five years in [[East Germany]], he took up various political positions before becoming [[prime minister]] in 1999.

Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952 and was baptized as an Orthodox Christian and continue to be a member to this day.  He was educated in law and economics at Leningrad State University before being assigned to work in the [[KGB]].  After five years in [[East Germany]], he took up various political positions before becoming [[prime minister]] in 1999.