Dictator Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin is virtually a lifetime president. Elected as president in 2000, he served consecutive terms until 2008. Due to Russian Constitution banning third straight term in office, he self-degraded himself as prime minister in the following four years. By extending presidential term to six years in 2012, he was elected as president for the third time. Even now, Putin doesn't hide his ambition to serve the fourth term that starts in 2018. If elected, he will be serving as president for 20 years. This is why Putin is called a czar.

Putin frequently strikes a macho pose by fishing shirtless and marching the forest with a hunting gun. He is also often seen as holding tigers and leopards as dogs. He also practices a number of tough guy hobbies including judo, in which he holds a black belt. He is fond of Fedor Emelianenko, called emperor of mixed martial artist. He excels in martial arts, tough whether he's good in academics remains unknown. Since divorcing in 2014, Putin was involved in a scandal with Alina Kabaeva, an Olympic gold medalist and gymnast.

Putin almost never waves his right arm when walking. People say it's a habit from when he was in KGB when he had to fast take out weapons in urgent situations. His 16 years of KGB life reflects conspiration and assassination maneuver he alleged carried on to retain power. When former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov was caught up in a sex sting, people are suspecting Putin was behind it. Many opposition people and media who went against him died a mysterious death or were assassinated, and Putin was suspected of them, too. The value of his property concealed is known to top 67.24 billion U.S. dollars.

Putin is wielding a dictatorship disguised as a democracy. Nevertheless, Russian people strongly support for Putin. In the past three elections, he has garnered at least 52 percent of voting rates. Falling oil prices have sent the Russian economy into a tailspin, but Russian support rate for Putin still tops 90 percent. Russia was once one of the two world powers with the U.S., and the Russian people perhaps are showing respect for Putin for having led the past glory days.