Born on October, 7 , 1952 in Leningrad (St.Petersburg).
After finishing eight classes of a usual Secondary school Putin transferred to Chemistry-biased school 281. It was an elite establishment of learning, the first school in the country on the base of a technical institute and the only specialized non-language school in Leningrad. Putin`s friend since the first class and a 'chemical wunderkind' Yakovlev advised him to enter the school. (Sobesednik, 1, 2000). The competition was three people per place, but Putin was enrolled. Then it turned out that he is not very much interested in chemistry, he preferred humanitarian sciences: literature and social studies.
Studied at the Leningrad State University. The competition at the entrance exams was 20 people per place (according to Moscow Komsomol man - 40 people per place). Entered the University having passed excellently all the exams.
Was a member of student groups. The student body was friendly that year, mostly, young people from other cities. That is why all the parties were held at the hostel. Volodya, however, was a rare guest at the parties. More often one could meet him in the library. Beginning with the 4th year he began studying according to his own individual plan (Moscow Komsomol man, August, 18, 1999)
Had his pre-diploma practice at the transport public prosecutor`s department. Investigated the crimes connected with the air transport. His first case was an aircraft`s accident while taking off.
Excellently defended his diploma on the International Law Department, the topic: 'The most favorable principle in trade'(acc. to the version of Common Newspaper, 'The Nation`s most favorable principle in the international law' - acc. to the version of Moscow Komsomol man).
In 1975 graduated from the Law Department of the Leningrad State University (international law).
After LSU graduated from the Krasnoznamenny Institute (the Academy of Foreign Reconnaissance). Was the monitor of the group of secret agents advanced prepareness .Upon graduation was recommended for illegal work, not for official under the cover of a diplomatic passport. (Common Newspaper, January, 13, 1999)
In 1975-1989 worked in the USSR Domestic Security Agency (KGB). Served in the first main administration (foreign reconnaissance)
Worked in East Germany. Mass Media versions about Putin`s activity in Germany clash considerably: 'Putin worked in KGB representation in East Germany. Acc. to the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundshau , he exercised control over Secretary of Dresden Committee Hans Modrov and surveyed anticommunist protest actions.
'L'Express' (December, 24, 1999 - translation of Moscow Echo) also states that Putin exercised ideological control over East Germans. In its view, the House of Soviet-German Friendship in Leipzig was used for spy operations in Germany and in West Europe as a whole. 'He is seen in Hamburg, Bonn, West Berlin, he goes around with a diplomatic passport and is on friendly terms with local politics. Acc.to some data, he was head of Dresden secret department that instilled agents into East-germanic scientific circles to prevent flight of Russian great scientists to the West.
Sunday Times (January, 17, 2000, translation - Moscow Echo )also presumes that Putin worked mostly in Dresden under General Vladimir Shirokov.
The headquaters was located on a two-storey villa - 4, Angelikastrasse , Waldschlossen district, Dresden. Sunday Times has data that Putin took part in the operation 'Luch'. In the course of the operation Soviet agents recruited Germans without informing Shtazi about them which allowed to preserve part of the reconnaissance net after the Berlin wall was destroyed. Nowadays German authorities renewed searches for spies, who were recruited by Putin, being apprehensive that many of them are still working for Moscow.
In 1989-1990 - Putin worked as a vice-rector adviser on International issues in the Leningrad State University . At the same time selected candidates for work in KGB. The statement of 'Independent Newspaper' that at that time Putin left CPSU and joined 'The Democratic Choice of Russia' is not right for DCR was established only in 1993.
From May, 1990 to June, 1991 - Chairman`s adviser of the Leningrad City Soviet of Deputies (Anatoli Sobchak).
From June, 1991 to June, 1996 - Chairman of St.Petersburg Committee of foreign connections.
From March, 1994 to June, 1996 - St.Petersburg Mayor first deputy.
From November, 1996 to June, 1997 - Chairman of the Council of the movement 'Our House - Russia' St Petersburg department. In autumn, 1995 - Putin became its head.
In spring, 1996 - was head of Anatoli Sobchak`s campaign at the elections of the Governor of St Petersburg. Sobchak lost the elections being back from his first deputy Vladimir Yakovlev only 1.7%.
In 1996 - Putin defended Kandidate thesis in St Petersburg Mining Institute on the topic 'Strategic Planning of Reproduction of the Region mineral and raw material base in the conditions of market relations forming'. Master of Economic Sciences. Rector of the Institute informed 'The Moscow Komsomol man' that Putin`s work was very fundamental and could claim to be a Doctor thesis: 'I think that Putin is a professional economist in spite of his law education and work in reconnaissance'.
From July, 1996 to March, 1997 - was deputy of the Chairman of RF President administration (deputy of Pavel Borodin) Dealt with Russian real estate abroad. 'By the moment Vladimir Vladimirovich came to the Kremlin much of the foreign wealth had been forgotten. After Putin had worked for several months every single mansion somewhere in Kuala-Lumpure was taken stock of .
From March, 1997 to May, 1998 - head of RF President Main control administration.
From May to June, 1998 - first deputy of RF President Administration head. Was responsible for relations between the Center and the regions.
From July, 1998 to August, 1999 - Director of RF Domestic Security Agency (FSB). 'The Moscow Comsomol man' states that this post Putin dreamt of all his life.
This appointment created shock. His predecessor was the Army general Nikolai Kovalev, Putin was lieutenant-colonel. Moreover, not a counter-intelligence agent, but a foreign reconnaissant.
Began activity on the new post by reducing by one third the Central apparatus of FSS. His subjects blamed that he came to pull FSB apart. Putin succeeded in regular financing of the service.
Established administrations on work with regions.
Permanent member of RF Security Council (since July, 1998).
From March, 29 to August, 9, 1999 - Secretary of RF Security Council.
On August, 9 , 1999 - temporary appointed Chairman of RF Government - the RF Government Chairman first deputy.
The president introduced Putin`s candidature into the State Duma for confirmation of his appointment on the post of prime-minister and called Putin his successor on the post of President of Russia. Putin confirmed that he would stand for election.
Announcing Putin the successor caused perplexity among politicians. A number of them admitted that this appointment was an impromptu.
Some Mass Media remarked that President called Putin a successor only once when he spoke of the successor of Sergei Stepashin. But the President`s speech was not ambiguous at all. He called him successor twice: once - his own, once - Stepashin`s. President called upon the Russians to appreciate Putin`s business and personal qualities and make their choice in July, 2000.
On August, 1999 the state Duma appointed Vladimir Putin to the post of RF Government Chairman. 233 deputies voted for this decision. On this very day the President signed the decree about Putin`s appointment the premier.
Still before Putin`s appointment Eltsin declared that the most severe measures should be undertaken for establishing order in the North Caucasus. And it is Putin who will undertake them. Putin is considered to be one of the ideologists of the Chechen campaign of 1999. It is on his initiative that the operation on ousting of boevicks out of Dagestan grew into the war on the territory of the Chechen Republic. By December the army surrounded Grozny. The war was taken by Russians with enthusiasm and Putin`s rating increased considerably. Disappointment was not felt even when it turned out that the World Community blames Russia on the armed decision of the conflict.
At first Putin declared Parliament to be the only legitime power in the Republic (elected in 1996, plenary powers being over in 1998, does not work since January, 1997, the deputies live basically in Moscow, the Chairman - Malick Saldullaev - organizer of 'Russian Lottery'.)
Mass Media reported that Putin managed not to get involved into the intrigues of oligarchs. For example, he remained absolutely indifferent to changes in Transneft administration, assault of the Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov and other scandals deserving attention of the journalists.
In November, 1999 Eltsin announced that he was getting more and more convinced that electing Putin President was 'the only variant for Russia': 'That is why I supported Putin and support him now'. On that day Putin confirmed that he would take part in the presedential elections in 2000.
On December, 31, 1999 - Boris Eltsin declared his retirement from the post of President of Russia. Vladimir Putin was appointed temporally Acting RF President. Eltsin handed hin the system of administration of RF Nuclear Forces ('nuclear suit-case'), Putin signed the decree on the guarantees to the President of Russia.
Since January, 25, 2000 - Chairman of the CIS Council.
On February, 15, 2000 - Putin registered a candidate on the president elections.
Putin`s Family.
Father - Vladimir Spiridonovich. Worked as a fitter. Died of cancer on August, 2 , 1999.
Mother - Maria Ivanovna. Died of cancer in 1998. Parents are burried on the Seraphim Semetry in St Petersburg. Vladimir is their only child.
Married, has two children. Wife - Ludmila, philologist - sister of Putin`s course-mate Victor Khmarin. She had been a teacher at the University for some time. They have two daughters - Kate and Maria, born in 1986 and 1985 in Germany. Can play the violin.
Awards and Titles
According to 'Sunday Times'(January, 17, 2000), in 1987 General Khorst Bem awarded Putin the gold medal Shtazi.
Military title: reserve colonel (acquired at the beginning of 1999). Before that there were jokes in CSS that Putin has a rare title - General - lieutenant-colonel.
'When I was transfered to Lubyanka again I could receive 'General' at once. But I think it would be incorrect on my side. There is a definite tradition in the military circles: every star should be deserved.' (Putin, interview to 'Komsomol Pravda', July, 8 , 1999)
Was officially thanked by the President for 'active participation in the plan of political regulation of the conflict between Yugoslavia and NATO.' (1999)
Friends and Enemies.
Up to the second year at the University Volodya had only one real friend.An A-one student, exactly like Putin. Only putin had excellent physical form, he was Master of Sports in unarmed combat already at the University, in the third year was the winner among Russian Universities. His friend was weak and ailing and Putin decided to help him. At first Putin taught him unarmed combat, then placed him in a sport circle. At the first competitions this boy broke a neck vertebra. He died in some hours. At the burial Volodia was closest to the coffin. He cried so much! During all the years of study at the University he blamed himself on the death of his best friend.
After this Putin led reticent life. In any case none of his former course-mate can boast of friendship with the President.
Putin was acquainted with Anatoli Sobchak since the days of his study at the Leningrad State University. Aspirant Sobchak read lectures on Economic Law. Then they did not meet for 15 years, when Putin served in CSS. They met again in 1989 when the rector of LSU recommended Putin to Sobchak as a diligent executive.
In May, 1990 - Sobchak was elected Chairman of the Leningrad Soviet and Putin became his assistant. Sobchak trusted Putin.
In 1991-1996 - Putin was 'the right hand' of Mayor Sobchak.
In 1996 the new Mayor of St Petersburg Vladimir Yakovlev suggested that Putin should remain in the administration but Putin refused.
Another close friend of Putin is Valeri Golubev, deputee, head of the city committee on tourism. They are acquainted since the time of service in KGB
It is generally accepted that Anatoli Chubais, head of the president administration helped Putin to enter it in 1996. But Putin told the 'Commersant' journalists that he si indebted with this appointment to Pavel Borodin.
Putin admitted that at the moment of his appointment premier he was hardly acquainted with the president Eltsin family.
At the beginning of 1999 Putin became an ally of the prime-minister Eugeni Primakov in his struggle against Boris Berezovski.
Victor Cherkessov is also mentioned among Putin`s team . They studies together in LSU, now Cherkessov is first deputy of CSS director, up to 1998 he was head of the Petersburg CSS Administration.
First appointments in Putin`s team:
Igor Sechin - head of the Government Secretariat;
Dmitri Kozak - first deputy of RF Government head.
Keeps in touch with Alexei Kudrin, Ilia Klebanov, Ilia Yuzhanov with whom he worked in the Sobchak team.
Master of Sports in unarmed combat and judo. In the third year at the University won the competition in unarmed combat among Universities of Russia. Champion of Leningrad in judo (1974). Every morning takes exersises and jogging. Shoots and swims well. Likes fishing and good bath.
RosBusinessConsulting
