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Vladimir Putin Fast Facts

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Updated 1947 GMT (0347 HKT) April 29, 2019

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is a popular but polarizing figure who has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade. See more photos from his life and career.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin is a popular but polarizing figure who has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade. See more photos from his life and career.
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Putin poses for a class photo in 1960. He was born October 7, 1952, in what is now St. Petersburg, Russia.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin poses for a class photo in 1960. He was born October 7, 1952, in what is now St. Petersburg, Russia.
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Putin dances with a classmate during a party in 1970.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin dances with a classmate during a party in 1970.
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Putin, bottom, wrestles with a classmate in 1971. He went on to study law at Leningrad State University, and in 1975 he joined the KGB, a Soviet-era spy agency.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin, bottom, wrestles with a classmate in 1971. He went on to study law at Leningrad State University, and in 1975 he joined the KGB, a Soviet-era spy agency.
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Putin poses with his parents, Vladimir and Maria, in 1985. A year earlier, he was selected to attend the Red Banner Institute of Intelligence, where he learned German and English.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin poses with his parents, Vladimir and Maria, in 1985. A year earlier, he was selected to attend the Red Banner Institute of Intelligence, where he learned German and English.
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From 1991 to 1994, Putin served as the chairman of St. Petersburg's Foreign Relations Committee. He also served as the city's deputy mayor.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
From 1991 to 1994, Putin served as the chairman of St. Petersburg's Foreign Relations Committee. He also served as the city's deputy mayor.
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Putin rose quickly through the political ranks. Here, he gives flowers to Russian President Boris Yeltsin during a farewell ceremony in Moscow in December 1999. Yeltsin, Russia's first democratically elected president, was resigning from office. Putin, his prime minister, was appointed acting president until the election, which Putin won several months later.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin rose quickly through the political ranks. Here, he gives flowers to Russian President Boris Yeltsin during a farewell ceremony in Moscow in December 1999. Yeltsin, Russia's first democratically elected president, was resigning from office. Putin, his prime minister, was appointed acting president until the election, which Putin won several months later.
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President-elect Putin watches Russia's Northern Fleet conduct tactical exercises in the Barents Sea in April 2000.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
President-elect Putin watches Russia's Northern Fleet conduct tactical exercises in the Barents Sea in April 2000.
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Putin shakes hands with British Prime Minister Tony Blair after a news conference in London in April 2000.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin shakes hands with British Prime Minister Tony Blair after a news conference in London in April 2000.
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Putin dances with a young girl in Kazan, Russia, while taking part in mid-summer festivities in June 2000.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin dances with a young girl in Kazan, Russia, while taking part in mid-summer festivities in June 2000.
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Putin and US President Bill Clinton talk in Moscow in June 2000.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin and US President Bill Clinton talk in Moscow in June 2000.
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Putin is welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il after arriving in Pyongyang in July 2000. Russia is one of the few countries that have diplomatic relations with North Korea.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin is welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il after arriving in Pyongyang in July 2000. Russia is one of the few countries that have diplomatic relations with North Korea.
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Putin speaks to his wife, Lyudmila, as they pose in front of the Taj Mahal in India in October 2000. They were married for 30 years before their divorce was finalized in 2014. They have two daughters together.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin speaks to his wife, Lyudmila, as they pose in front of the Taj Mahal in India in October 2000. They were married for 30 years before their divorce was finalized in 2014. They have two daughters together.
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Putin listens to US President George W. Bush during a visit to the White House in November 2001. A few months later, the two signed a treaty to reduce and limit their strategic nuclear warheads.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin listens to US President George W. Bush during a visit to the White House in November 2001. A few months later, the two signed a treaty to reduce and limit their strategic nuclear warheads.
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Putin watches honor guards march at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a wreath-laying ceremony in Moscow in June 2003.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin watches honor guards march at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a wreath-laying ceremony in Moscow in June 2003.
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Putin leaves in an open carriage with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremonial welcome in London in June 2003.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin leaves in an open carriage with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremonial welcome in London in June 2003.
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Putin pets his dog Kuni as he addresses journalists with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in January 2007. Merkel, reportedly fearful of dogs since one attacked her in 1995, was photographed looking distinctly uncomfortable when Putin brought his large black Labrador into the meeting in Sochi, Russia. Years later, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/12/europe/putin-merkel-scared-dog/index.html" target="_blank">he told the German newspaper Bild</a> he had no intention of intimidating Merkel. "When I found out that she doesn't like dogs, of course I apologized," he said.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin pets his dog Kuni as he addresses journalists with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in January 2007. Merkel, reportedly fearful of dogs since one attacked her in 1995, was photographed looking distinctly uncomfortable when Putin brought his large black Labrador into the meeting in Sochi, Russia. Years later, he told the German newspaper Bild he had no intention of intimidating Merkel. "When I found out that she doesn't like dogs, of course I apologized," he said.
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In 2008, Putin had finished two terms and was constitutionally obliged to stand down as president. But he stayed close to power, becoming prime minister after Dmitry Medvedev, center, was elected to be his successor.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
In 2008, Putin had finished two terms and was constitutionally obliged to stand down as president. But he stayed close to power, becoming prime minister after Dmitry Medvedev, center, was elected to be his successor.
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Putin shakes hands with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in November 2008.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin shakes hands with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in November 2008.
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Putin takes part in a judo training session at a St. Petersburg athletics school in December 2009. Putin holds a black belt in judo.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin takes part in a judo training session at a St. Petersburg athletics school in December 2009. Putin holds a black belt in judo.
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Putin officiates an arm-wrestling contest as he visits a youth educational forum near Russia's Lake Seliger in August 2011.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin officiates an arm-wrestling contest as he visits a youth educational forum near Russia's Lake Seliger in August 2011.
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Putin and Medvedev attend a session of the State Council in Moscow in December 2011. A few months later, Putin was re-elected president and Medvedev became his prime minister.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin and Medvedev attend a session of the State Council in Moscow in December 2011. A few months later, Putin was re-elected president and Medvedev became his prime minister.
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During a rally in Moscow, tears run down Putin's face after he was elected president for a third term in March 2012.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
During a rally in Moscow, tears run down Putin's face after he was elected president for a third term in March 2012.
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Putin plays with his dogs Yume, left, and Buffy at his home in Novo-Ogaryovo, Russia, in March 2013.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin plays with his dogs Yume, left, and Buffy at his home in Novo-Ogaryovo, Russia, in March 2013.
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Putin and Dutch Queen Beatrix share a toast after unveiling a plaque at the Hermitage Amsterdam museum in April 2013. It's a branch of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin and Dutch Queen Beatrix share a toast after unveiling a plaque at the Hermitage Amsterdam museum in April 2013. It's a branch of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
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A topless protester shouts at Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a visit to central Germany in April 2013. That month, Putin <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/25/world/europe/russia-putin-questions/index.html" target="_blank">defended his government's record on free speech</a> and rejected a claim that it uses "Stalinist" methods to clamp down on critics and activists. Two international rights groups had issued scathing reports on Putin's presidency, saying changes to the law had helped authorities stifle dissent.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
A topless protester shouts at Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a visit to central Germany in April 2013. That month, Putin defended his government's record on free speech and rejected a claim that it uses "Stalinist" methods to clamp down on critics and activists. Two international rights groups had issued scathing reports on Putin's presidency, saying changes to the law had helped authorities stifle dissent.
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Putin fishes in Russia's Tuva region during a vacation in July 2013. For years, Putin has cultivated a populist image in the Russian media.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin fishes in Russia's Tuva region during a vacation in July 2013. For years, Putin has cultivated a populist image in the Russian media.
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Putin arrives to watch a military exercise in Russia's Leningrad region in March 2014.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin arrives to watch a military exercise in Russia's Leningrad region in March 2014.
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From left, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, Putin and Medvedev look at their watches before the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in February 2014. Russia hosted the Olympics that year.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
From left, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, Putin and Medvedev look at their watches before the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in February 2014. Russia hosted the Olympics that year.
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Putin controls the puck during an ice hockey game between Russian amateur players and ice hockey stars at a festival in Sochi, Russia, in May 2014.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin controls the puck during an ice hockey game between Russian amateur players and ice hockey stars at a festival in Sochi, Russia, in May 2014.
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US President Barack Obama shares a toast with Putin at a luncheon in New York hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September 2015. "Amid the inevitable trials and setbacks, may we never relax in our pursuit of progress and may we never abandon the pursuit of peace," Obama said before clinking glasses. "Cheers." The two, bitterly at odds over issues in Ukraine and Syria, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/28/politics/obama-putin-meeting-syria-ukraine/" target="_blank">had a closed-door meeting</a> later in the day.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
US President Barack Obama shares a toast with Putin at a luncheon in New York hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September 2015. "Amid the inevitable trials and setbacks, may we never relax in our pursuit of progress and may we never abandon the pursuit of peace," Obama said before clinking glasses. "Cheers." The two, bitterly at odds over issues in Ukraine and Syria, had a closed-door meeting later in the day.
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Putin sits in a bathyscape as it plunges into the Black Sea in August 2016. He went underwater to see the wreckage of an ancient merchant ship that was found earlier in the year.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin sits in a bathyscape as it plunges into the Black Sea in August 2016. He went underwater to see the wreckage of an ancient merchant ship that was found earlier in the year.
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Putin exercises at a Black Sea resort in Sochi in August 2016.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin exercises at a Black Sea resort in Sochi in August 2016.
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Putin shakes hands with US President Donald Trump <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/07/politics/trump-putin-meeting/index.html" target="_blank">as they meet on the sidelines</a> of the G20 summit in Germany on Friday, July 7. They talked for more than two hours, discussing interference in US elections and ending with an agreement on curbing violence in Syria.
Photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin shakes hands with US President Donald Trump as they meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Germany on Friday, July 7. They talked for more than two hours, discussing interference in US elections and ending with an agreement on curbing violence in Syria.
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(CNN)Here's a look at the life of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Personal:
Birth date: October 7, 1952
Birth place: Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia
Birth name: Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
    Father: Vladimir Putin, a factory foreman
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    Mother: Maria Putin
    Marriage: Lyudmila (Shkrebneva) Putin (July 28, 1983-2014, divorced)
    Children: Yekaterina and Maria
    Education: Leningrad State University, law, 1975
    Religion: Orthodox Christian
    The 2019 Vladimir Putin calendar
    Photos: The 2019 Vladimir Putin calendar
    What calendar devoted to Vladimir Putin would be complete without a shirtless entry? Here's one January image.
    Photos: The 2019 Vladimir Putin calendar
    What calendar devoted to Vladimir Putin would be complete without a shirtless entry? Here's one January image.
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    Putin likes to project himself as a keen outdoorsman.
    Photos: The 2019 Vladimir Putin calendar
    Putin likes to project himself as a keen outdoorsman.
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