0

Vladimir Putin
A Leader: Research Paper






Matthew McClain
Period 6
5/27/2014



McClain 1

Vladimir Putin was born in Leningrad in the year 1952. His father, also named
Vladimir Putin, fought in World War II and worked as a security guard and factory
foreman during the 1950s. President Putin remembers his mother, Maria Shelomova, as
a kind-hearted woman. He describes his early childhood by saying that his family lived
simply, eating simple foods prepared by his mother (Biography).
During his early years in school, Putin was not very focused on his studies, but
his priorities began to change in sixth grade. He went on through his school, making a
name for himself in sports and in the Young Pioneers organization, in which he quickly
became a leader. Putin was determined to work in the field of intelligence so, after
speaking with a public reception office of the KGB directorate, Putin decided to pursue a
degree in law at the Leningrad State University. After receiving that degree in 1975, he
went on to study at KGB School No. 1 in Moscow. From 1985 to 1990, Putin worked at
an intelligence office in Dresden, where he was twice promoted: first to lieutenant
colonel and later to senior assistant to the head of his department (Biography).
Putins political career began in the 1990s. He began as Chairman of the
Committee for International Relations at the St. Petersburg City Hall, becoming Deputy
Chairman of the St Petersburg City Government in 1994, having already resigned from
the KGB. He moved to Moscow in 1996, where he continued working in local politics. In
August 1999, the current Russian president, Boris Yeltsin, appointed Putin as Prime
Minister of the Russian Government. In December of the same year, Yeltsin resigned
office and appointed Putin as Acting President until elections could be held the next
year. Putin won those elections, and was also re-elected in 2004. Due to Russian term
McClain 2

limits, Putin couldnt run for office again in 2008, but in 2012 he again took up his place
as president for his third term (Vladimir Putin | MT Profile).
In September 2001, Putin released a statement in response to the attack on the
Twin Towers declaring Russia to be allied with the U.S., but (like many other countries)
later said that he was in opposition to President Bushs war on terror. In December
2012, Putin passed a law preventing Russian children from being adopted in the United
States, ostensibly to make it easier for Russians to adopt native children. The following
year, when Edward Snowden leaked vital U.S. intelligence, Putin agreed to grant him
asylum in Russia (Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin).
The aforementioned law preventing adoption of Russian children by the U.S. was
one example of a humanitarian law passed by Putin. When examined against the
Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man, this law may call into question Articles 13
and 15. Article 13 states that Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his
own while Article 15 states that No one shall be arbitrarily denied the right to
change his nationality, (The Universal Declaration of Human Rights). Nearly 50
orphans were left in legal limbo (Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin) when Putins law came
into effect; for these orphans, these two articles were being violated. Putins law would
not allow the orphans the right to leave their country, and in doing so, denied them the
right to move to the U.S. and potentially consider themselves as American.
Putin seems to be predominantly focused on humanitarian efforts in his country,
though this is accomplished in many ways through tackling large economic issues.
When speaking of his time as Prime Minister, Putin said If I can do something to help
save Russia from falling apart then this would be something to be proud of,
McClain 3

(Biography). This shows that Putins intended political focus is on improving the
standards of living for the Russian people. And this is one achievement that he has
managed successfully; from 2000 to 2008, Russias GDP has increased by about 70%.
The 2007 GDP had reached the levels of 1990, indicating the Russia has recovered
from the economic turmoil it encountered after the end of the Cold War and the
disbanding of the Soviet Union (Russia's Economy under Vladimir Putin: Achievements
and Failures). GDP is used as an indicator of the prosperity of a country and its people,
and Russia has regained its status among the worlds top 10 economies, so the
standards of living for the Russian people should be reasonably fair. Since 2003, Russia
has seen steady industrial growth, and from 2000-2008, the incomes of Russians
doubled while the poverty level was halved.
A large portion of Russian income is from the export of the countrys various raw
materials, specifically oil, gas, and ore. This does hurt the Russian economy; as an
export economy, is very vulnerable to shifts in the demand for the products it exports.
Also, the Russian market is still attempting to break out of the mold of centrality that was
left behind by the USSRs communist market (Economy in Russia). The Russian market
is, however, shifting more towards manufacturing, which will help to spur the growth of
Russian markets in the future and decrease its dependence on foreign nations for
various goods.
Russia has a powerful influence in the oil market, since oil is one of its main
natural resources. Revenues from this industry was used in 2004 to found the
Stabilization Fund, which has broken into other funds such as the National Welfare
Fund. This latter fund is designed to help preserve the sustainability of pensions for
McClain 4

Russian citizens, similar to American retirement funds or social security (National
Wealth Fund).
In 2012 and 2013, Putin passed legislation that tightened regulation of the
Russian LGBT community, banning homosexual propaganda such as symbols and
books containing homosexual content. However, at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in
Sochi, Putin said in an interview for Russian television that We will do everything to
make sure that athletes, fans and guests feel comfortable at the Olympic Games
regardless of their ethnicity, race or sexual orientation, (Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin).
Putins efforts in regards to LGBT communities seems not to deny their rights, simply to
stop their emergence in his country.

McClain 5

Works Cited
"Biography." Vladimir Putin Personal Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 May 2014.
<http://eng.putin.kremlin.ru/bio>.
"Economy in Russia." Russia Economy. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://www.world66.com/europe/russia/economy>.
"National Wealth Fund." ::. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://www1.minfin.ru/en/nationalwealthfund/>.
"Russia's Economy under Vladimir Putin: Achievements and Failures." RIA Novosti.
N.p., 1 Mar. 2008. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://en.ria.ru/analysis/20080301/100381963.html>.
"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 26 May
2014. <http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/>.
"Vladimir Putin | MT Profile." The Moscow Times. Government, 27 May 2014. Web. 27
May 2014.
<http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mt_profile/vladimir_putin/432538.html>.
"Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 2014 Web. 27 May
2014.
<http://www.biography.com/people/vladimir-putin-9448807#personal
life&awesm=~oFvsGkzU19hl2k>.