When Vladimir Putin was appointed interim president of Russia on New Year's Eve of 2000, he vaulted from relative obscurity to the federation's highest political post. During his first two terms as president, Putin was considered an enigmatic figure on the world political scene. While he presided over a stable period of economic growth and national confidence, opposition leaders and Western officials were critical of his commitment to civil liberties. He remained a controversial figure... więcej

Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, 2024. 3p.