Putin Forever

He's the president of Russia. He's a race-car driver. He's a blackbelt in judo. He's Vladimir Putin.

MAY 4, 2012


THE EARLY YEARS

Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has overseen a dozen years of political stability -- so stable, in fact, that Putin never left the Kremlin. Here, we remember the boyish charm of Vlad's early years.

Above, a young Putin -- then Russia's acting prime minister -- speaks to the media after the meeting of leaders of the Federation Council, Russian parliament's upper house, in Moscow on Aug. 11, 1999.

AFP/Getty Images