Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who is the president of Russia, a position he has filled since 2012, and previously from 1999 until 2008. Putin is the second-longest current serving European president after Alexander Lukashenko.
Critics call him anti-democratic. Under Putin's leadership, Russia has shifted to authoritarianism. Experts do not consider Russia a democracy, citing the jailing and repression of political opponents, the intimidation and suppression of the free press and the lack of free and fair elections.
“Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain.”
Vladimir Putin
“One has to be insincere and promise something which you cannot fulfill. So you either have to be a fool who does not understand what you are promising, or deliberately be lying.”
Vladimir Putin
“We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them. ”
Vladimir Putin
“He who does not regret the break-up of the Soviet Union has no heart; he who wants to revive it in its previous form has no head.”
Vladimir Putin