He won the election in March 2012 and is presently serving a six-year term.
During Putin's regime from 1999 to 2008, Russia's real incomes increased drastically and self-assessed life satisfaction of people rose significantly.
His first presidency was also marked by high economic growth.
Putin, as Prime Minister, oversaw large-scale military and police reform. His energy policy transformed Russia's position as an energy superpower.
Early life
Putin was born on 7 October 1952, in Leningrad to Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin and Maria Ivanovna Putina. His mother was a factory worker and his father was a conscript in the Soviet Navy. Putin graduated from the International Law branch of the Law Department of the Leningrad State University in 1975.
