...Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, on October 7, 1952. After graduating from Leningrad State University in 1975, he began his career in the KGB as an intelligence officer. He was stationed mainly in East Germany and held that position until 1989. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Putin retired from the KGB with the rank of colonel, and returned to Leningrad as a supporter of Anatoly Sobchak (1937-2000), a liberal politician. After Sobchak won the election for mayor of Leningrad (1991), Putin became the head of external relations for Sobchak in 1994, and after that he held the position of deputy mayor. In 1998, Putin was appointed deputy head of management under Boris Yeltsin's presidential administration. In that position, he was in charge of the Kremlin's relations with the regional governments. Vladimir Putin first appeared heavily under the spotlight in 1998 when former President Boris Yeltsen appointed Putin as the head of Federal Security Services (FSB), the FSB was the successor of the former KGB. Evgeni Primakov was appointed as a prime minister, Primakov later on appointed Yuri Skuratov as a general prosecutor. Skuratov first’s inquiry was within the Kremlin’s wall. His assignment was to investigate the renovation of the Kremlin. Yeltsin was directly involved with this unethical affair where millions of dollars were washed in the renovation of Kremlin. Vladimir Putin as a director of the FSB was asked to...
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...Veronica Enriquez Mrs. Thirsk/Wurster Globish 10 E 7 May 2012 World Today: Vladimir Putin “ I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles, but today it means getting along with the people” Mahatma Gandhi once said. The greatest and most influential leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and our founding fathers were loved and got along with the people; although, modern day Russian President, Vladimir Putin might suggest “what they don’t know, won’t hurt them” as a motto. Vladimir Putin has managed to deceive the people and manipulate his current election as the President of Russia. Vladimir Putin appears to have an innate nature to deceive and manipulate. Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on October 7, 1952, Mr. Putin grew up in a Soviet environment. He served as a counter intelligence agent in East Germany as part of the KGB from 1985-1990. Upon leaving the KGB in 1990 he joined the St. Petersburg reformist party for Russia’s early democratic movement. “It is a résumé that for better or worse may cite as the foundation of his ideas and personality” (Hill). Although, many others believe that the true foundation is when “on August 9, 1999, Yeltsin (Boris Yeltsin, President of Russia from 1991-1999) dismissed Sergei Stepashin, who had been prime minister for three months, and appointed Vladimir Putin to replace him”(Russia). Working for the KGB, Putin became a pro at staying a secret but as the public saw his face more he made his way to “acting President”...
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...communication. These characteristics are similar to the organizational leadership. The situation can be advantageous in both ways. A successful political leader can achieve his aims in his field and he will be able to achieve the success, if he is appointed as a leader of an organization. The honesty, dedication and integrity of his character can be applied in the success of the organization. A successful leader in an organization can be a successful politician as he can employ the dynamics of power in a proper manner. Such leaders have become great leaders of the countries and they have steered their respective countries to success. The transformative leaders can be identified in many countries. Russian president Vladimir Putin is such transformative leader (Kanungo, 2009). Putin was one of the leading members of the FBI and he has joined the organization when he was sixteen. He was able to reach the top level of the organization with the help of his leadership...
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...Why did Russia interfere in the 2005 Ukrainian Presidential election? Ukraine is Russia's largest European neighbour. Regardless of their common history, Ukrainian domestic policies have a significant impact on Russia's perceived interest. Parts of Ukraine have been under Russian rule sine the 17th century. Eastern parts of Ukraine had been continually subjected to dominance from the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union. Western Ukraine did not join the Soviet Union until 1939. The country has a history of fragmentation that continues to this day, this is exasperated Russia's continued desire to meddle in the domestic affairs of former republics of the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union dissolved in in 1991, Ukraine received their independence but there was no great change in policy. Former members of the Communist Party managed to remain power without much difficulty. Opposition parties found it difficult to break their stranglehold on power. In the late Soviet era the Communist Party of Ukraine began to accumulate vast sums of sums of cash.[1] Much of this cash disappeared when the Communist Party disbanded after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However much of this money was reinvested to ensure the same people form the Communist Party stayed in power. Leonid Kuchma was elected President in 2004. he had previously been Prime Minister without much note. However he won the election against incumbent Leonid Kravchuk with 52% of the vote.[2] Due to his election as...
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...Vlad Shtyrts Mr. Caruso H Mod Literature 1 May 2014 Analysis of corruption in Russia “They steal,” said Nikolai Karamzin, Russian poet, historian, and philosopher, to sum up Russia. His statement is quite accurate, because that is exactly what has been happening in Russia for the past half a millennia. Corruption is one of the main causes of all the problems in Russia. It has spread from the central government into the economy, education, health care, and national defense. Corruption directly impacts the lives of Russian citizens and the relationship with foreign nations. Russia is known to have a long history of corruption, every year it is becoming an increasing problem because it brings an overall instability to the country and affects all of its citizens. The money intended for the social systems is being routed into the pockets of rapacious politicians and criminals. What is corruption? According to the Oxford dictionary corruption is “dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery,” this is exactly what it means, but in Russia it is much more complex. There are many categories, types, and tier of corruption in Russia, each dealing with different aspects of the practice. Two main types exist, the grand and petty corruption. Grand corruption deals with the government branches, and has a greater monetary value. This type involves corruption in politics, lawmaking, and government contracts. Petty corruption is are the insignificant bribes...
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...historic debate over previous cultures. In the last century alone, Russian people from one generation to the other saw different cultures evolving in their society and made their lives hard and made them strong to adapt to rapid changes in the society. In the Russian Drama, the dancer through the ballet seeks audience approval by delivering lofty performance. Apart from this the book explains about the autocratic authority ranking culture where nepotism and corruption is rampant in the system. It’s no surprise to read news about Russia for wrong reasons lately, such as corruption, Oligarchs, income inequality, low standards of health care and an aging multi ethnic population. A good example to describe this is Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin transformed Russia less as an industrial power in to an exporter of raw materials, the most important of which is energy (particularly natural gas). He brought energy industry under state supervision with iron fist and sent the opposition to jail (like YUKOS Michael Khodorovsky), if not direct control, he is forcing out foreign interests and reorienting the industry toward exports, particularly to Europe. High energy prices...
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...Relations I Professor Laura Culbertson 25 April 2015 International Relations Theoretical Perspectives of Putin, Obama, and Rouhani Vladimir Putin The current president of the country of Russia, Vladimir Putin predominately exhibits realist tendencies on the international stage. While Putin may be motived by variables that inevitably fall under constructivism and other theories of international relations, he most recently has adopted a realist viewpoint of how his country fits in to the world as an international actor. The definition of the realist theory as described by Wilkinson, explains that the world of international politics is a constant struggle over power, motived by self-interest and primarily maintained through military power that is acquired by commerce and industry wealth (2007, 2). During Putin’s address to the Federal assembly, he exemplifies a realist view in his statement, “Every nation has an inalienable sovereign right to determine its own development path, choose allies and political regimes, create an economy and ensure its security… we will have to protect our legitimate interests unilaterally”(2014). It can be seen that President Putin justifies Russia’s actions on the international stage through purporting that every nation has it’s own interests and has the right to do whatever it takes to ensure those interests are secured. When President Putin was serving as the prime minister in Russia, he oversaw the occupation of Russian troops in Chechnya (BBC...
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...Home." Allrussias.com. Alex Chubarov, 2007-10. Web. 22 Apr 2011. <http://www.allrussias.com/section_rf.asp>. Goldman, Marshall. "Putin and the Oligarchs." Foreign Affairs 83.6 (2004): 33-44. JSTOR. Web. 22 Apr 2011. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/20034135>. Grant, Charles. "Russia's future in balance: Putin versus Khodorkovsky?." openDemocracy 06 Aug 2003: Web. 22 Apr 2011. <http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-europe_security/article_1409.jsp>. Hoffman, David. “The Oligarchs: Wealth and Power in the New Russia.” New York: Public Affairs, 2003. Print. Kennedy, Dominic. "Roman Abramovich admits paying out billions on political favours." Times 5 July 2008: Web. 22 Apr 2011. <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article 4272509.ece>. Kochan, Nick. "The deal that made a Russian oligarch." Observer 6 July 2003: Web. 22 Apr 2011. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2003/jul/06/russia.football>. Mann, Chris. "Vladimir Potanin is Another of These Russian Oligarchs who, like Russian Dolls, Keeps Popping Out From Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin's Corrupt Regime." Business 4 Apr. 2004. 15. LexisNexis Academic. Web. 22 Apr 2011. <http://www.lexisnexis.com>. Mohiuddin, Yasmeen. "Boris Berezovsky: Russia's First Billionaire and Political Maverick Still Has It in for Vladimir Putin." International Journal 62.3 (2007): 681-688. JSTOR. Web. 22 Apr 2011. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/40184868>. Mosina, Olga. "Russian...
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...National National Herald case: HC terms Gandhis’ applications as ‘infructuous’ Updated: October 15, 2015 16:01 IST | PTI Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi during the during a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. File photo The Congress leaders had alleged that a "different treatment" was meted out to a challenge filed by them in the case. The Delhi High Court on Thursday termed as “infructuous” the applications moved by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul and some other party leaders alleging a “different treatment” was meted out to a challenge filed by them in the National Herald case. The Congress leaders in their application had opposed the transfer of the case from the court of Justice Sunil Gaur who had part-heard the matter for eight months to another court of Justice P S Teji. Justice Gaur on Thursday termed their “applications” as infructuous as the matter has been listed before him by the high court registry. The judge also said that he had not recused from the matter and added that the petitions came back to him as it was part-heard by him. Even senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Sonia Gandhi, agreed with the court that the applications had become infructuous and also added that they can be withdrawn. The court, thereafter, said it will hear arguments in the matter later in the afternoon. The Gandhis in their application had said their petition challenging a trial court order in the case was transferred in violation...
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...Marina Kumskova Professor Austin LaGrone ENG 101 April 15, 2013 Human Rights violation’s in the Russian Federation. There is no single, universally accepted definition of democracy. In fact, there is no universal model of what democracy should be. The emphasis varies in accordance with the history of a country, its culture and the strength of its civil society, and conditions under which democratic institutions were introduced. One consequence is that countries that use the term “democratic” to describe their governing systems can range from Western European nations to China and the former Soviet Union to autocracies in the Middle East and Latin America. Democratic systems can be minimalist democracies in which the citizens mainly do not have the right to vote but enjoy few other freedoms. Other are the democracies that would expand the conception of democracy to full participation in all civic institutions. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “recognition of the dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”. Speaking of the Eastern Europe, one can trace the development from minimalist democracy to dictatorships. The most popular example of dictatorship in the Eastern Europe is Belarus. The US Department of State repeatedly criticized the regime enacted by Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has been steadily consolidating his power through authoritarian...
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...irreparable psychological damage. She was convicted last year along with two other band members of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for an anti-President Vladimir Putin stunt in Russia’s main cathedral. "Alekhina and two other female members of the punk band were convicted last year of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for an anti-Vladimir Putin protest in Russia's main cathedral. One of the women has had her sentence suspended on appeal." Judge Galina Yefremova rejected the petition, saying the court that sentenced Alekhina had already taken the child’s existence into account. Reaction: The crime that the two women had committed was very disrespectful, and definitely deserved harsh prosecution. They interrupted a church service and subjected people to whatever point they were trying to make. They covered their faces in church, a big disrespect in the Orthodox religion, stormed the Altar, forcing the church service to stop. Also, women are not allowed in Orthodox Altars, sang a prayer to the Virgin Mary which included swearing. Sinning there. and had their backs to the Altar, another disrespect. Imagine this happening in a Catholic church or a Muslim mosque. No one would be defending these girls if that was the case. But it was an Orthodox church in Russia, which is why people find this anti-Putin-ism related. They interfered with the Orthodox religion, showing disrespect and I support the court ruling. However, the issue that one of the woman brings up...
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...The year 2011 will go down in global corporate history as the year when one of the world’s largest energy companies, BP, and the Russian state company, Rosneft, unsuccessfully attempted to form a strategic partnership on Arctic development. This failure was caused by the contractual and legal objections of the AAR consortium - BP’s partners in the Russian oil company TNK-BP. In 2003-5, BP and the AAR consortium led by three billionaires with Russian connections - Mikhail Fridman, Len Blavatnik, and Viktor Vekselberg - merged their Russian oil corporate assets - TNK, Sidanko, and Onako and their subsidiaries - under the umbrella of TNK-BP.2 This joint venture was established on a 50/50 basis, the operation of which required mutual joint decision making. The partners also signed a shareholding agreement on TNK- BP’s right of first refusal in relation to potential future oil and gas projects offered to BP or AAR in Russia and Ukraine. This agreement was subsequently used by AAR to stop the BP-Rosneft deal in international courts. Unfortunately, this was not the first time that BP had been unable to change the way it conducted its business in Russia. The first example occurred in 2007-8 when BP was reported to be keen on having Gazprom as a partner instead of AAR. This move would have transformed the TNK-BP joint venture into Gazprom-BP. This did not transpire. Second, in the spring-summer 2008, there was a turbulent ‘misunderstanding’...
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...immense change in Russia (“Vladimir Putin”). When Yelstin resigned, Russia was in a state of political and economic turmoil. Vladimir Putin was put into power and he immediately began the struggle of trying to rehabilitate Russia. Putin offered stability and gave the confused country direction and structure. He diligently worked at reducing the concerns and problems presented in the early years after the fall of Communism such as corruption, economic strife and improved foreign relations. His way of leading Russia became a new form of government in and of itself: a unique intermediate leadership between Western style democracy and Communist leadership. Putin found a way to combine ideals of both in a way that was most beneficial for the majority of Russia. Putin’s ideals for Russia offer an extreme change in economy, moving away from the outdated state controlled government and current oligarch system, and towards economic self-sufficiency. When Putin inherited the country from Yelstin, the economy was incredibly unstable. The 1998 financial crisis, the lowest economic point in Russia history, was only one year prior to Putin taking office. In 1999 the gross domestic product (GDP) of Russia was at a record low of $125 million. (“Russian Economy”) In perspective, The United States GDP in 1999 was over nine billion. Under the Putin administration, the GDP more than doubled, putting Russia as the seventeenth highest GDP in 2006 (“Russian Economy”). Putin has taken government owned...
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...Trans –Siberian Pipeline: The Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhgorod pipeline (also known as the West-Siberian Pipeline, or Trans-Siberian Pipeline) is one of Russia's main natural gas export pipelines, partially owned and operated by Ukraine. The pipeline was constructed in 1982-1984. It created the transcontinental gas transportation system Western Siberia-Western Europe. Controversies surrounding the pipeline The erstwhile Soviet’s plans to build the pipeline were considered a threat to the balance of energy trade in Europe, and were strongly opposed by the Reagan administration. The United States prevented U.S. companies from selling supplies to the Soviets for the pipeline, as part of what was also retribution against the Soviets for their policies towards Poland. America's Western European allies, however, refused to bow to U.S. pressure to boycott the pipeline, insisting that contracts already signed between the Soviets and European companies needed to be honoured. This led to several European companies being sanctioned by the U.S. Government. Reagan reportedly said "Well, they can have their damned pipeline, but not with American equipment and not with American technology." The efforts by the U.S. pressure to prevent the construction of the pipeline, and its export embargo of supplies for the pipeline (1980–1984) constituted one of the most severe transatlantic crises of the Cold War. Russia-Ukraine gas dispute The Russia–Ukraine gas disputes refer to a number of disputes between...
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...economically if it doesn’t recall its military assets. The U.S. has already suspended plans to attend preparations for the G8 Summit in Sochi and said bilateral economic dialogue may also be cut off. Meanwhile, Kerry said, “the United States and its partners will support Ukraine.” U.S. President Barack Obama, who held an almost simultaneous news conference, announced $1 billion in funding for Ukraine to help repair its economy. Obama said the money will also be used to help Ukraine plan upcoming elections. Kerry said the U.S. is also providing technical assistance to help Ukraine’s financial institutions recover. Putin calls Ukraine uprising a 'coup' Kerry's comments came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow reserves the right to use all means to protect Russians in Ukraine — specifically in the Crimean peninsula. Putin accused the West of encouraging an unconstitutional coup in Ukraine and driving it into anarchy. He also declared...
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