Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952. According to a made-for-television documentary entitle, ''The second baptism of Rus'', Putin told a personal story how his mother had him secretly baptized in the Russian Orthodox church as his father, who was a member of the Communist Party organization in the factory where he worked, would have faced serious problems.<ref>https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2013/07/23/putin-christened-in-secret-from-his-father-a26057</ref> Putin was a [[judo]] champion in his youth.<ref>http://nypost.com/2013/11/13/vladimir-putin-is-tougher-than-chuck-norris/</ref> He was educated in law and economics at Leningrad State University before being assigned to work in the [[KGB]].<ref>[http://en.putin.kremlin.ru/ Webpage of Vladimir Putin]</ref> After five years in [[East Germany]], he took up various political positions before becoming [[prime minister]] in 1999.
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Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952. According to a made-for-television documentary entitled, ''The second baptism of Rus'', Putin told a personal story how his mother had him secretly baptized in the Russian Orthodox church as his father, who was a member of the Communist Party organization in the factory where he worked, would have faced serious problems.<ref>https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2013/07/23/putin-christened-in-secret-from-his-father-a26057</ref> Putin was a [[judo]] champion in his youth.<ref>http://nypost.com/2013/11/13/vladimir-putin-is-tougher-than-chuck-norris/</ref> He was educated in law and economics at Leningrad State University before being assigned to work in the [[KGB]].<ref>[http://en.putin.kremlin.ru/ Webpage of Vladimir Putin]</ref> After five years in [[East Germany]], he took up various political positions before becoming [[prime minister]] in 1999.
[[File:Vladtheimpaler.jpg|thumb|200px|Putin at an conference]]
[[File:Vladtheimpaler.jpg|thumb|200px|Putin at an conference]]
He was married to Lyudmila Putina, a former stewardess with Aeroflot, from July 28, 1983, until 2014, when the two divorced. They have two daughters.
He was married to Lyudmila Putina, a former stewardess with Aeroflot, from July 28, 1983, until 2014, when the two divorced. They have two daughters.