Who is Vladimir Putin?CGI – Turmoil in Russia, 2013

Vladimir Putin – KGB operative

Oct. 7, 1952 born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg)

1975 earned law degree from Leningrad State University

Joined foreign intelligence directorate of the KGB› Maybe involved in economic espionage OR

was low-level domestic spy 1990 retired as colonel from KGB

What is the KGB? Preservation of state power; surveillance of the

population› Tsarist Russia = secret police› 1917-1922 – Cheka› 1922-1954 Under Lenin and Stalin responsible for millions of deaths

1954-1991 – added foreign affairs › Functioned as CIA and FBI combined

Responsibilities› Foreign & domestic espionage› Intelligence gathering and analysis› Counterintelligence› Political control over the population› Protecting borders› Covert activities and disinformation

1991 KGB becomes the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Foreign Intelligence Service

Vladimir Putin – the Politician

1994 deputy mayor of St. Petersburg 1996 served on Yeltsin’s presidential staff 1998 appointed head of Federal Security

Service March 1999 manages network of all

intelligence agencies and ministries August 1999 appointed prime minister Dec 31, 1999 Yeltsin resigns position as

president

Vladimir Putin – the President

Jan 2000 appointed acting president› Signs decree granting Yeltsin full criminal immunity

and a lifetime pension March 2000 wins presidential election

› First democratically elected president March 2004 reelected with 70% of popular vote

› Allegations that elections were corrupt May 2008 Putin’s choice Dmitri Medvedev wins

election› Putin joins United Russia Party to qualify for PM

position› May 7 Putin appointed Prime Minister› Dec. 30, 2008 presidential terms limit extended to 6

years March 2012 Putin elected President

2012 Presidential Election

Australian News Clip US State Department Statement Gorbachev’s BBC Interview