Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin became the president of Russia in 1999. His term as the President expired on May 7, 2008 and then Dmitry Medvedev became the President of the country. He became President in on Dec 31st 1999, and then won the Russian presidential election in 2000. He was re-elected for a second term in 2004, which expired on May 7, 2008. In the 2004 Presidential election, he was backed by the United Russia, which is the largest political party in the country.

Under Putin administration Communists claim, law and order and stable economy in Russia was restored in the middle of the lawlessness since the collapse of the Soviet Union. During his rule it is further claimed, standard of living in the country increased and the economy significantly developed. Those who suggest that the economy is less healthy than Russians want us to believe may face difficulties.

Loss of freedom
He is often described as the "Dictator" of Russia. His rule is often criticized for restricting freedom of speech and media freedom.

But among intellectuals and advocates of a democratic Russia in the Western mode, a gnawing concern is arising that the relative freedom from state surveillance and restriction that citizens have relished in the last decade may be drawing to a close.

Supplanting it is a resurgent government obsession with internal security and threats from abroad -- a phenomenon that they say has set off a limited but growing crackdown on supposed challenges to the state.

The evidence itself is scattered. It ranges from a string of arrests of Russian scholars, to the revival of old curbs on international scientific cooperation, to the seeming harassment of some political critics and dissidents, to a growing conviction among some intellectuals that their telephones are again being tapped and their e-mail read.

As much as any crackdown, what unsettles them is the failure of President Vladimir V. Putin, himself a product of the state security machine, to restrain or even speak out against it.

Putin stopped popular election of Russian governors in 2004 and arranged indirect control of Russian parliamentary elections.

References and External links

 * Some Russians Are Alarmed At Tighter Grip Under Putin
 * Stand Up to Putin Washington Post article