Why has Vladimir Putin been in power for so long?

Sky News

12 Mar 202406:45

Summary

TLDRVladimir Putin, Russia's longest-serving president since Stalin, rose to power in 1999 following Boris Yeltsin's resignation. His handling of the 1999 Moscow apartment bombings boosted his popularity, leading to his election win in 2000. Despite accusations of election rigging and tightening media control, Putin's leadership saw economic growth and improved living standards. His presidency has been marked by increased hostility towards the West, the annexation of Crimea, and allegations of electoral fraud. In 2020, constitutional amendments allowed Putin to potentially remain in power until 2036, facing little real competition and with systemic opposition figures silenced.

Takeaways

🗓️ Vladimir Putin became Russia's president on the last day of 1999, following Boris Yeltsin's resignation.
💥 Putin's handling of the Moscow apartment bombings in 1999 significantly boosted his popularity and helped him win the presidency in 2000.
🎖️ Putin's first term saw improvements in living standards for Russians, economic reforms, and growth driven by oil and gas prices.
🚫 Press freedom and democracy in Russia faced challenges as media controls tightened during Putin's rule.
🏛️ In 2008, Putin and Medvedev orchestrated a political transition with Putin becoming Prime Minister and Medvedev as President, but Putin remained the dominant figure.
🔄 Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 amidst allegations of electoral fraud and mass protests in Moscow.
🌍 Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 increased Putin's domestic support but led to international isolation.
🔙 In 2018, Putin was re-elected with over 76% of the vote, though allegations of vote rigging persisted.
📜 2020 saw Putin signing an executive order amending the Russian Constitution to allow him to potentially stay in power until 2036.
🚷 Systemic opposition to Putin has been suppressed, with figures like Boris涅斯 and Alexei Navalny facing barriers to running for office or, in Navalny's case, imprisonment and a suspicious death.

Q & A

Who is the longest-serving Russian president since Joseph Stalin?
-Vladimir Putin.
In what year did Boris Yeltsin hand over the presidency to Vladimir Putin?
-Boris Yeltsin handed over the presidency to Vladimir Putin on the last day of 1999.
What event greatly boosted Putin's popularity during his early months in office?
-Putin's handling of the Moscow apartment bombings in September 1999, which killed more than 300 people, greatly boosted his popularity.
What percentage of the vote did Putin win in the 2000 presidential elections?
-Putin won the 2000 elections in the first round with 53% of the vote.
How did Putin manage to stay in power after his second term ended in 2008?
-After his second term ended in 2008, Putin became prime minister while his protege, Dmitry Medvedev, served as president, with Putin effectively pulling the strings.
What was the impact of the 2011 parliamentary elections on Putin's image?
-The 2011 parliamentary elections were marred by widespread accusations of vote rigging, leading to mass protests and damaging Putin's image.
What significant event in 2014 increased Putin's popularity within Russia but led to international isolation?
-Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 increased Putin's popularity within Russia but led to the country's effective exile from the majority of the international community.
What constitutional amendment signed by Putin in 2020 allows him to potentially remain in power until 2036?
-The executive order signed by Putin in 2020 called for amendments to the Russian Constitution that allowed a president to run for two six-year consecutive terms, enabling Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Who was Alexei Navalny, and why is his death significant in relation to Putin's presidency?
-Alexei Navalny was an anti-war candidate and a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin who rose to prominence during the Bolotnaya protests. His death in prison in mysterious circumstances, which his supporters and Western leaders blame on Putin, is significant as it highlights the suppression of systemic opposition to Putin's rule.
What was the outcome of the legislative elections held in Russia in 2021?
-In the 2021 legislative elections, Putin's United Russia party maintained its constitutional majority by taking 320 of the 450 seats in the lower House of the state Parliament.
What is the significance of the allegations of ballot stuffing during the 2021 legislative elections?
-The allegations of ballot stuffing during the 2021 legislative elections underscore concerns about the integrity of Russia's electoral process and the dominance of Putin's United Russia party.

Outlines

00:00

🔱 Rise and Consolidation of Power: Vladimir Putin's Early Years

This paragraph outlines Vladimir Putin's ascent to power, beginning with his appointment as prime minister in 1999, following Boris Yeltsin's resignation. It highlights Putin's handling of the Moscow apartment bombings and the subsequent boost in his popularity, which led to his election as president in March 2000 with 53% of the vote. The paragraph also touches on the lingering questions about the bombings, suggesting possible involvement of Russian intelligence services. It then discusses Putin's first term, during which he implemented economic reforms and saw improvements in living standards due to rising oil and gas prices. The paragraph also mentions the tightening of media controls and the assassination of Russian journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006, which led to international outcry. It concludes with Putin's second presidential term, his switch to the prime minister role in 2008, and his return to the presidency in 2012 amidst allegations of vote rigging and mass protests.

05:02

🎭 Political Maneuvering and Extended Tenure: Putin's Recent History and Future Prospects

The second paragraph delves into Putin's continued hold on power, starting with his re-election in 2012 and the subsequent protests in Moscow's Bolotnaya Square. It discusses the allegations of electoral fraud and the growing discontent among Russian citizens, especially in larger cities. The paragraph then moves on to describe Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, which increased Putin's popularity domestically but led to Russia's isolation from the international community. It also covers Putin's 2018 re-election with over 76% of the vote and the legislative elections in 2020, where his United Russia party maintained its constitutional majority despite allegations of ballot stuffing. The paragraph concludes with the significant constitutional amendments signed by Putin in 2020, which reset his term limits and potentially allow him to stay in power until 2036 when he would be 83 years old. It also mentions the lack of real competition and the suppression of systemic opposition figures, including the mysterious death of former opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who accused Putin of being responsible for his poisoning.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin is the longest-serving Russian president since Joseph Stalin. He first became Russia's president in 1999, following Boris Yeltsin's resignation. His tenure has been marked by significant political, economic, and military actions, including the handling of Moscow apartment bombings, improvements in living standards through economic reforms, and the annexation of Crimea. The video discusses his rise to power, his popularity, and the constitutional amendments that potentially allow him to stay in power until 2036.

💡Moscow apartment bombings

The Moscow apartment bombings were a series of terrorist attacks that occurred in September 1999, which killed more than 300 people. These events significantly boosted Putin's popularity as he took a hardline stance against the terrorists, rallying the Russian public behind him. The bombings are believed to have been a pivotal moment that helped Putin secure his early support and position him for his eventual presidency.

💡Chechen terrorists

Chechen terrorists refer to militant groups from the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, a breakaway region in the North Caucasus of Russia. In the context of the video, they are responsible for the Moscow apartment bombings that played a crucial role in Putin's rise to power by enabling him to take a strong stance against terrorism and rally the nation behind a common cause.

💡Economic reforms

Economic reforms during Putin's early presidency involved a series of changes aimed at improving the Russian economy. These reforms, coupled with rising oil and gas prices, contributed to improved living standards for Russians and economic growth. The video highlights these reforms as a significant aspect of Putin's first term, which helped to solidify his support among the population.

💡Media control

Media control refers to the regulation or suppression of media outlets and journalistic freedom by the state. In the context of the video, it describes the tightening of controls on the media in Russia during Putin's rule, which has been seen as a threat to the country's fledgling democracy and has drawn international concern.

💡Anna Politkovskaya

Anna Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist and human rights activist known for her critical reporting on Putin's government and the situation in Chechnya. Her murder in 2006, believed to be a contract killing, sparked international outcry and highlighted the dangers faced by journalists and activists in Russia who spoke out against the government.

💡Constitutional amendments

Constitutional amendments are changes made to a country's constitution. In the context of the video, it refers to the 2020 amendments to the Russian Constitution that allowed Putin to potentially extend his term limits, enabling him to stay in power until 2036. These changes have raised concerns about the concentration of power and the lack of democratic checks and balances in Russia.

💡Crimea annexation

The annexation of Crimea refers to Russia's 2014 action of incorporating the Crimean Peninsula into its territory following a controversial referendum. This move was widely criticized internationally and resulted in Russia's isolation from much of the global community. However, domestically, it boosted Putin's popularity due to its nationalistic overtones.

💡Elections and vote rigging

Elections and vote rigging are central to the narrative of Putin's political career as presented in the video. Elections refer to the democratic process of choosing political leaders, while vote rigging involves illegal manipulation of election results. The video discusses several instances where Putin's victories were marred by accusations of vote rigging, both at the parliamentary and presidential levels, indicating a lack of transparency and fairness in the electoral process.

💡Opposition figures

Opposition figures in the context of the video are individuals who challenge or critique Putin's government and policies. The script mentions several key opposition figures, including Boris涅san and Alexei Navalny, who have faced significant obstacles in their attempts to participate in politics, such as being barred from running for office or facing imprisonment. These figures represent the struggle for political pluralism and democratic values in Russia.

💡Nerve agent poisoning

Nerve agent poisoning refers to the deliberate exposure of an individual to a nerve agent, a type of chemical weapon that disrupts the body's nervous system. In the video, this term is associated with Alexei Navalny, who was poisoned with a nerve agent and survived, only to be later imprisoned and die under suspicious circumstances. The incident is significant as it highlights the risks faced by political dissidents in Russia and the international response to such acts.

Highlights

Vladimir Putin has been in power for nearly a quarter of a century, making him the longest-serving Russian president since Joseph Stalin.

Putin became acting president on the last day of 1999 after Boris Yeltsin's resignation.

His handling of the Moscow apartment bombings in September 1999 greatly boosted his popularity.

Putin won the 2000 elections in the first round with 53% of the vote.

There were lingering questions over who was behind the bombings, with suggestions it was Russia's intelligence services.

Putin's first 8-year term saw improved living standards for Russians due to economic reforms and rising oil and gas prices.

Russian journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkoysa was shot dead in 2006, an act believed to be a contract killing.

Putin and Medvedev switched roles in 2008, with Putin becoming prime minister and Medvedev president, though Putin remained the power behind the throne.

Putin won the 2012 presidential elections with over 63% of the vote despite accusations of vote rigging.

Mass protests erupted in Moscow's Bot Square ahead of Putin's return to the Kremlin.

Putin's rhetoric towards the West became more hostile, especially after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The 2018 presidential elections saw Putin win with more than 76% of the vote, but allegations of vote rigging persisted.

In 2020, Putin signed an executive order amending the Russian Constitution to allow him to run for two more six-year terms, potentially keeping him in power until 2036.

Putin's United Russia party maintained its constitutional majority in the 2021 legislative elections, despite instances of ballot stuffing.

Anti-war candidate Boris涅san and former opposition leader Alexei Navalny, both systemic opposition figures, faced barriers to running for office and Navalny died in prison under mysterious circumstances.

Navalny's death, attributed by many to Putin, led to international outrage and accusations of responsibility against the Russian president.