Former KGB spy Vladimir Putin (67) has been leading Russia since 2000. He was president for eight years before being succeeded by Dmitri Medvedev, who subsequently appointed Putin prime minister.
In 2012, Putin took over again. The terms for the presidency have been extended from four to six years in the meantime. He is now in his second term, until 2024. That has made him the longest-serving leader since dictator Josef Stalin.
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