However, Putin’s early reign would experience tragedy when the Kursk submarine sank in the Barents Sea in August, killing all 118 crew members. His response to this event would see him attacked and vilified by many citizens.
He was on vacation at the time and didn’t rush back when the disaster struck and doubled down on this mistake by making the ill advised statement ‘it sank’ when asked what went wrong for the Kursk.
Despite this misstep, his image and rating with the Russian people didn’t suffer too much. So much so, that by his re-election campaign in 2004, he would win 70% of the vote and usher in a second term as President.
His disdain for the antiquated communist system would also rise to the surface with his implementation of some serious economic reforms. He would embrace a more capitalist economic system but one with tighter regulations and strict oversight. This would see the Russian economy stabilize and begin for the first time in decades to grow, some even estimating by 7% annually.
The good times, however, wouldn’t last as the global financial crash of the mid-2000’s would stunt that growth. Despite these global economic woes, the fact the everyday Russians could see double the amount of disposable income now in their pockets, most believed this was entirely down to Putin.
1 thought on “Vladimir Putin – The Polarizing Bear of Russia?”
Putin was / is no choir boy. He now lives in a billion dollar palace with lavish gardens and secluded acreage. He leaves a trail of executed enemies and I would wager unlike the cowardly Clintons, he didn’t hire someone to do his dirty work. My guess is he has acquired much of his wealth from stealing. He is / was a thief, murderer and bully.
That being said, he now promotes family, Christianity, a sovereign Russia. He loves his country.
Russian military soldiers are encouraged to be heterosexual not homosexual like here in America. No red high heel marches for Russian troop and none of this insane transgender nonsense.
Say what you will about Putin, but he always comes across with dignity and decorum unlike our womanizer Clinton, blustering big mouth Trump, queer, gay Obama, drunk at the podium Piglosi or senile pedophile Biden.
Russia at the moment can be proud, they at least have a leader that acts like a leader. He’s not perfect but Vladimir Putin is a hell of a lot better than the traitors in DC that have sold our country out and are for the most part all sexual perverts, drunkards and cocaine addicts.
I saw a picture of Putin as a young boy sitting on his mother’s lap. They are both rail thin and looked to be real Russian peasants. Vladimir Putin started out dirt poor. He had initiative, drive, focus and despite all the odds against him is now where he is at.