Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (Russian: ???????? ???????????? ?????, {{Audio|ru-Putin.ogg|pronunciation}}, Pútin; born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and the current President of the Russian Federation. He succeeded Boris Yeltsin on December 31, 1999.

Family and personal life

Putin is married to Liudmila Putina, a former airline stewardess and teacher of German. They have two daughters, Maria (born 1985) and Yekaterina (Katya)(born 1986 in Dresden). The daughters attended the German School in Moscow (Deutsche Schule Moskau) until his appointment as prime minister.

Related Topics:
Liudmila Putina - 1985 - 1986 - Dresden

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Putin is a practicing member of the Russian Orthodox Church. His conversion, which most observers agree was sincere, followed a life-threatening fire at his dacha in the early 1990s.

Related Topics:
Russian Orthodox Church - Dacha

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Putin speaks German with near-native fluency, and has passable English.

Related Topics:
German - English

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