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Vladimir Putin

Putin says Russia will stand up for itself

Last updated Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - 9:54am

MOSCOW -- Speaking to thousands of soldiers at the annual Red Square military parade, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Wednesday that the country is a force for world security and that Russia will stand up for its positions.

Putin's speech, two days after his inauguration for a third term in the Kremlin, came less than a week after the nation's military chief of staff warned that Russia would consider pre-emptive strikes, if a dispute with the United States over a Europe-based missile defense system worsens.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin reacts as an honor guard marches during an inauguration ceremony at the Cathedral Square in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 7, 2012. Vladimir Putin took the oath of office for a third term as Russia's president on Monday, saying he considers "service to the fatherland and our nation to be the meaning of my life." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, pool)

Putin back as Russia's president for another 6 years

Lynn Berry The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, May 7, 2012 - 9:13am

MOSCOW -- Vladimir Putin took the oath of office in a brief but regal Kremlin ceremony on Monday, while on the streets outside thousands of helmeted riot police prevented hundreds of demonstrators from protesting his return to the presidency.

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the election monitoring center in Moscow, Tuesday, March 6, 2012. Putin won his third presidential term in Sunday's election. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Yana Lapikova, Government Press Service)

Hundreds of Russian protesters arrested

Jim Heintz The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 11:15am

MOSCOW -- Vladimir Putin's spokesman defended the arrest of hundreds of demonstrators protesting the election returning the autocratic leader to the presidency, saying police were professional and effective.

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Supporters of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin rally at Manezh square outside Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 4, 2012. Putin has claimed victory in Russia's presidential election, thanking his supporters for helping foil foreign plots aimed to weaken the country, an election which the opposition and independent observers say has been marred by widespread violations. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

A tearful Putin claims Russian election victory

Lynn Berry, Vladimir Isachenkov The Associated Press

Last updated Sunday, March 4, 2012 - 6:30pm

MOSCOW — Vladimir Putin scored a decisive victory in Russia’s presidential election Sunday to return to the Kremlin and extend his hold on power for six more years. His eyes brimming with tears, he defiantly proclaimed to a sea of supporters that they had triumphed over opponents intent on “destroying Russia’s statehood and usurping power.”

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FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 file photo, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin gesture while speaking as he attends a massive rally in his support at Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia. Russian and Ukrainian special services have arrested a group of suspects accused of involvement in a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russia's state television reported Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo /Alexander Zemlianichenko, file)

Assassination plot targeting Putin foiled, Russia says

Sergei L. Loika Los Angeles Times

Last updated Monday, February 27, 2012 - 6:04pm

MOSCOW -- Security services of Russia and neighboring Ukraine foiled a plan to assassinate Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin organized by an underground movement in the restive North Caucasus region, state television reported Monday.

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin gestures while a national call-in TV show in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011.Putin said Thursday the results of Russia's parliamentary election reflected the people's will, and that the opposition had alleged vote fraud purely to strengthen its position. "The results of this election undoubtedly reflect the real balance of power in the country," he said, speaking in a national call-in TV show. "It's very good that United Russia has preserved its leading position." He added that a drop in support for his party was a natural result of the global financial crisis of 2008 that has taken its toll on the country.(AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Pool)

Putin rejects any redo of fraud-tainted vote

Vladimir Isachenko The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 11:33am

MOSCOW -- Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vehemently rejected opposition calls for a rerun of the parliamentary election, accusing those who organized massive protests against vote fraud of working to weaken Russia at the West's behest.

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(MISHA JAPARIDZE/The Associated Press) Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia’s richest tycoons and New Jersey Nets basketball team owner, speaks at a press conference in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, as he announces his candidacy to run against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March 2012 presidential election. Prolhorov has been cautious not to cross Putin’s path in the past, but may pose a serious challenge to Putin, whose authority has been dented by the Dec. 4 parliamentary election and recent massive street protests against alleged vote fraud.

Russian tycoon to compete with Putin in election

Nataliya Vasilyeva The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, December 12, 2011 - 8:58am

MOSCOW — Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia’s richest tycoons and the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, said Monday he will run against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March presidential election.

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(ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/The Associated Press) Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, with the emblem of the United Russia party in the background, visits the United Russia party headquarters in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2011. Exit polls cited by Russian state television showed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s party with less than 50 percent of the vote in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, a significant drop reflecting Russians’ growing weariness with his rule.

Putin’s party barely hangs onto its majority

Vladimir Isachenkov The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, December 5, 2011 - 9:36am

MOSCOW — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s party saw its majority in Russia’s parliament weaken sharply, according to preliminary election results released Monday, a humiliating setback for the man who has steadily tightened his grip on the nation for nearly 12 years.

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Putin’s party losing support in parliamentary vote

Lynn Berry The Associated Press

Last updated Sunday, December 4, 2011 - 5:31pm

MOSCOW — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s party struggled to hang onto its majority in Russia’s parliamentary election, polls and official results showed Monday, suggesting Russians were wearying of the man who has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade.

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(ALEXEI DRUZHININ/The Associated Press) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaking at a United Russia party congress in Moscow, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. Russia’s dominant political party on Saturday nominated Vladimir Putin for president, almost certainly ensuring his return to the office he held for eight years, and approved Putin’s proposal that current president Dmitry Medvedev swap places and become prime minister.

Putin to run for Russian presidency in 2012

Jim Heintz The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, September 24, 2011 - 4:34pm

MOSCOW — Vladimir Putin’s decision to reclaim the presidency next year sets up the possibility that he could rule Russia until 2024 and foreshadows a continuation of the strongman rule that many in the West have called a retreat from democracy.

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