As an expert in political history and governance, I am well-versed in the intricacies of political leadership and the tenures of various world leaders. Vladimir Putin has been a prominent figure in Russian politics for many years. To provide a detailed account of his time in office, let's delve into the timeline of events that have shaped his political career.

Vladimir Putin first assumed the presidency of Russia on December 31, 1999, following the resignation of Boris Yeltsin. Putin was then elected to his first full term as president in 2000, serving until 2008. During his first tenure, Putin focused on strengthening the Russian economy and consolidating power within the government. His leadership was marked by a period of relative stability and growth for Russia.

However, due to constitutional term limits, Putin was ineligible to run for a third consecutive term in the 2008 presidential election. Instead, Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Putin, was elected president. In this period, Putin transitioned to the role of Prime Minister, a position he held from 2008 to 2012. This move was seen by some as a strategic maneuver to maintain significant influence over Russian politics, even while not holding the presidential title. This period, as you mentioned, is often referred to by some opponents as a "tandemocracy," suggesting a power-sharing arrangement between Putin and Medvedev.

In 2011, the Russian government passed a law extending the presidential term from four to six years. This change was significant because it allowed Putin to run for and win another term as president in 2012, marking his return to the presidency. He was re-elected again in 2018, serving a total of four terms as president.

It's important to note that Putin's influence on Russian politics extends beyond his official tenures as president and prime minister. His leadership style and the political structures he has established have had a lasting impact on the country's governance and international relations.

To summarize, Putin has been in various positions of power within the Russian government for over two decades. His time in office includes two non-consecutive terms as president (2000-2008 and 2012-present) and a term as Prime Minister (2008-2012). The changes to the presidential term limits and Putin's political maneuvers have been key factors in his extended tenure.

read more >>

The 2008 presidential election was won by Dmitry Medvedev, who appointed Putin as Prime Minister, the beginning of what some opponents considered to be a period of "tandemocracy". In September 2011, after presidential terms were extended from four to six years, Putin announced he would seek a third term as president.read more >>