Domestic policy of Vladimir Putin

Putin's domestic policies, especially early in his first presidency, were aimed at creating a strict "vertical of power". On 13 May 2000, he issued a decree dividing the 89 federal subjects of Russia between 7 federal districts overseen by representatives named by himself to facilitate federal administration. Putin also pursued a policy of enlargement of federal subjects: their number was reduced from 89 in 2000 to the present 83 after the autonomous okrugs of Russia were merged with their parent subjects.

File:Map of Russian districts, 2010-01-19.svg. On 19 January 2010, the new 8th North Caucasian Federal District (shown here in purple) was split from Southern Federal District.]]

According to Stephen White, Russia under the presidency of Putin made it clear that it had no intention of establishing a "second edition" of the American or British political system, but rather a system that was closer to Russia's own traditions and circumstances.{{cite book|last1=White|first1=Stephen|editor1-first=Stephen|editor1-last=White|title=Developments in Russian Politics 7|year=2010|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|location=New York|isbn=978-0-230-22449-0|chapter=Classifying Russia's Politics}} Putin's administration has often been described as a "sovereign democracy".R. Sakwa, Putin: Russia's Choice, 2008, p. 42-43 First proposed by Vladislav Surkov in February 2006, the term quickly gained currency within Russia and arguably unified various political elites around it. According to its proponents, the government's actions and policies ought above all to enjoy popular support within Russia itself and not be determined from outside the country.[https://web.archive.org/web/20061208020210/http://www.edinros.ru/news.html?id=111148 Sovereignty is a Political Synonym of Competitiveness] Vladislav Surkov, public appearance, 7 February 2006[https://web.archive.org/web/20061105125847/http://www.edinros.ru/news.html?id=114108 Our Russian Model of Democracy is Titled «Sovereign Democracy»] Vladislav Surkov, briefing, 28 June 2006.

In July 2000, according to a law proposed by him and approved by the Federal Assembly of Russia, Putin gained the right to dismiss heads of the federal subjects. In 2004, the direct election of governors by popular vote was ended. This was seen by Putin as a necessary move to stop separatist tendencies and get rid of those governors who were connected with organised crime.{{cite web |url=http://radiovesti.ru/articles/2011-12-15/fm/24575 |title=Президентское фильтрование губернаторов оценили политики |publisher=Radiovesti.ru |accessdate=7 May 2012 |archive-date=24 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224031439/http://radiovesti.ru/articles/2011-12-15/fm/24575 |url-status=dead }} The measure proved to be temporary: in 2012, as proposed by Putin's successor Dmitry Medvedev, the direct election of governors was re-introduced.{{cn|date=April 2023}} Along with the return of elected governors, Medvedev's reforms also simplified the registration of political parties and reduced the number of signatures required by non-parliamentary parties and independent candidates to participate in elections,{{cn|date=April 2023}} thus reverting or further loosening the restrictions imposed by previous Putin-endorsed legislation. Notably, the tough electoral legislation has been among the government actions effected under Putin's presidency that have been criticised by many independent Russian media outlets and Western commentators as anti-democratic.{{cite news|last=Kramer|first=Andrew E.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/world/europe/22russia.html?pagewanted=print|title=50% Good News Is the Bad News in Russian Radio|location=Russia|work=The New York Times|date=22 April 2007|accessdate=24 September 2011}}{{cite web|author1=Masha Lipman |author2=Anders Aslund |url=http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail&id=745|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050210095422/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail&id=745|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 February 2005|title=Russian Media Criticism of Vladimir Putin: Evidence and Significance|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|date=2 December 2004|access-date=2 March 2010}}

During his first term in office, Putin moved to curb the political ambitions of some of the Yeltsin-era oligarchs, resulting in the exile or imprisonment of such people as Boris Berezovsky, Vladimir Gusinsky, Mikhail Khodorkovsky; other oligarchs soon joined Putin's camp.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

Putin presided over an intensified fight with organised crime and terrorism that resulted in two times lower murder rates by 2011,{{cite web|url=http://demoscope.ru/weekly/2011/0453/barom02.php |title=Несмотря на двукратное снижение числа убийств, на фоне европейских показателей оно остается крайне высоким |publisher=Demoscope.ru |accessdate=7 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325044724/http://demoscope.ru/weekly/2011/0453/barom02.php |archivedate=25 March 2012 }} as well as significant reduction in the numbers of terrorist acts by the late 2000s.{{cite web|url=http://www.finmarket.ru/z/nws/hn.asp?id=722215&nt=0&p=2&sec=0 |title=МВД рапортует: количество терактов снизилось в 15 раз |date=28 November 2007 |publisher=Finmarket.ru |accessdate=7 May 2012}}

Putin succeeded in codifying land law and tax law and promulgated new codes on labour, administrative, criminal, commercial and civil procedural law.{{cite book|last=Sharlet|first=Robert|title=Developments in Russian Politics|editor=White |editor2=Gitelman |editor3=Sakwa|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2005|volume=6|chapter=In Search of the Rule of Law|isbn=0-8223-3522-0}} Under Medvedev's presidency, Putin's government implemented some key reforms in the area of state security, the Russian police reform and the Russian military reform.

{{See also|Economy of Russia|Energy policy of Russia}}

File:GDP of Russia since 1989.svg. The Russian term for GDP is ВВП (VVP) which coincides with the initials of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and is often used as a shortcut when writing or speaking about him. (from 2014 are forecasts)]]

Under the first Putin administration the economy made real gains of an average 7% per year (2000: 10%, 2001: 5.1%, 2002: 4.7%, 2003: 7.3%, 2004: 7.2%, 2005: 6.4%, 2006: 8.2%, 2007: 8.5%),{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?)sy=1993&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=49&pr1.y=11&c=922&s=NGDP_RPCH&grp=0&a=|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|publisher=Imf.org|date=14 September 2006|accessdate=9 December 2011}} making it the 7th largest economy in the world in purchasing power. Russia's nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 6-fold, climbing from 22nd to 10th largest in the world. In 2007, Russia's GDP exceeded that of Russian SFSR in 1990, meaning it has overcome the devastating consequences of the 1998 financial crisis and preceding recession in the 1990s.{{cn|date=April 2023}}

During Putin's first term of eight years in office, industry grew by 76%, investments increased by 125%,{{cn|date=April 2023}} and agricultural production and construction increased as well. Real incomes more than doubled and the average monthly salary increased sevenfold from $80 to $640.{{cite news|title=Russians weigh Putin's protégé|agency=Associated Press|location=Moscow|date=3 May 2008|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24443419|access-date=29 December 2008}}[http://russiaprofile.org/politics/a1187177738.html Putin's Economy – Eight Years On] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018214852/http://russiaprofile.org/politics/a1187177738.html |date=18 October 2014 }}. Russia Profile, 15 August 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2008 From 2000 to 2006 the volume of consumer credit increased 45 times{{cite web|url=http://www.vtbmagazine.ru/number_detail.asp?aid=87 |title=РОЗНИЧНЫЙ ПОДХОД. Российские банки борются за частников |publisher=Vtbmagazine.ru |accessdate=2 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20060619041538/http://www.vtbmagazine.ru/number_detail.asp?aid=87 |archivedate=19 June 2006 }}{{cite web|url=http://bank.samaratoday.ru/showNews.php?idNews=741|title=Ежегодно объем потребительского кредитования в России удваивается|publisher=Bank.samaratoday.ru|accessdate=2 March 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021205725/http://bank.samaratoday.ru/showNews.php?idNews=741|archivedate=21 October 2011}} and the middle class grew from 8 million to 55 million. The number of people living below the poverty line decreased from 30% in 2000 to 14% in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/2006/b06_11/07-01.htm |title=Основные Социально-Экономические Индикаторы Уровня Жизни Населения |publisher=Gks.ru |accessdate=2 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218100817/http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/2006/b06_11/07-01.htm |archivedate=18 February 2012 }}

In 2001, Putin, who has advocated liberal economic policies, introduced a flat tax rate of 13%;Daniel Mitchell {{unfit|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110629040859/http://www.heritage.org/Research/Commentary/2003/03/Russias-Flat-Tax-Miracle Russia's Flat-Tax Miracle]}}. The Heritage Foundation. 24 March 2003.{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-536806.html|title=Putin Advocates Strong Russia, Liberal Economy; President Surprisingly Candid In First State of Nation Address|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com|date=9 July 2000|accessdate=2 March 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2013}} the corporate rate of tax was also reduced from 35 percent to 24 percent; Small businesses also get better treatment. The old system with high tax rates has been replaced by a new system where companies can choose either a 6-percent tax on gross revenue or a 15-percent tax on profits. The overall tax burden is lower in Russia than in most European countries.{{cite journal|ssrn=526745|title=A Comparative Study of Taxation in Russia and Other CIS, East European and OECD Countries|publisher=Papers.ssrn.com|date=9 April 2004|last1=McGee|first1=Robert W.|last2=Preobragenskaya|first2=Galina}}

A central concept in Putin's economic thinking was the creation of so-called National champions, vertically integrated companies in strategic sectors that are expected not only to seek profit, but also to "advance the interests of the nation". Examples of such companies include Gazprom, Rosneft and United Aircraft Corporation.{{cite book|last=Goldman|first=Marshall I.|title=Petrostate: Putin, Power and the New Russia|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2008|chapter=Chapter 5|isbn=978-0-19-534073-0|chapter-url-access=registration|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/petrostateputinp00gold}}

Before the Putin era, in 1998, over 60% of industrial turnover in Russia was based on barter and various monetary surrogates. The use of such alternatives to money has now fallen out of favour, boosting economic productivity significantly. Besides raising wages and consumption, Putin's government has received broad praise also for eliminating this problem.Iikka. Korhonen et al. [http://www.suomenpankki.fi/en/suomen_pankki/organisaatio/asiantuntijoita/Documents/bon0608.pdf The challenges of the Medvedev era] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320025511/http://www.suomenpankki.fi/en/suomen_pankki/organisaatio/asiantuntijoita/Documents/bon0608.pdf |date=20 March 2012 }}. Bank of Finland's Institute for Economies in Transition, 24 June 2008.

Some oil revenue went to the stabilization fund established in 2004. The fund accumulated oil revenue, allowing Russia to repay all of the Soviet Union's debts by 2005. In early 2008, it was split into the Reserve Fund (designed to protect Russia from possible global financial shocks) and the National Welfare Fund, whose revenues will be used for a pension reform.{{cn|date=April 2023}}

Inflation remained a problem however, as between 1999 and 2007 it was kept at the forecast ceiling only twice, and in 2007 the inflation exceeded that of 2006, continuing an upward trend at the beginning of 2008.{{cn|date=April 2023}} The Russian economy is still commodity-driven despite its growth. Payments from the fuel and energy sector in the form of customs duties and taxes accounted for nearly half of the federal budget's revenues. The large majority of Russia's exports are made up of raw materials and fertilizers,{{cn|date=April 2023}} although exports as a whole accounted for only 8.7% of the GDP in 2007, compared to 20% in 2000.[http://www.kommersant.com/p882678/r_527/macroeconomics/ Rosstat Confirms Record GDP Growth] Kommersant. Retrieved 5 May 2008.

In December 2011, after 15 years of negotiations, Russia finally joined the World Trade Organization. The accession to WTO was expected to be ratified by Russian Parliament in the spring of 2012.

{{clear}}

File:Putin drives a yellow Lada through the Amur Highway 1.jpeg brand driving through the recently opened Amur Highway in 2010.]]

To boost the market share of locally produced vehicles and support the Russia's automotive industry, the government under Putin implemented several protectionist measures and launched programs to attract foreign producers into the country. In late 2005, the government enacted legislation to create special economic zones (SEZ) with the aim of encouraging investments by foreign automotive companies. The benefits of operating in the special economic zones include tax allowances, abolishment of asset and land taxes and protection against changes in the tax regime. Some regions also provide extensive support for large investors (over $100 million.) These include Saint Petersburg/Leningrad Oblast, Kaluga Oblast and Kaliningrad Oblast.{{cite web|url=http://www.ebrd.com/downloads/research/economics/auto.pdf|title=Automotive Industry in Russia: Impact of foreign investments in car assembly plants on suppliers' entry|last1=Krkoska|first1=Libor|last2=Spencer|first2=Alan|publisher=European Bank for Reconstruction and Development|year=2008}} Under Putin as president and Premier, most of the world's largest automotive companies opened plants in Russia, including Ford Motor Company, Toyota, General Motors, Nissan, Hyundai Motor, Suzuki, Magna International, Scania and MAN SE.

In 2005, Putin initiated an industry consolidation programme to bring the main aircraft producing companies under a single umbrella organization, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The aim was optimize production lines and minimise losses. The programme was divided in three parts: reorganization and crisis management (2007–2010), evolution of existing projects (2010–2015) and further progress within the newly created structure (2015–2025).{{cite journal|url=http://www.ato.ru/content/state-sponsored-consolidation|title=State-sponsored consolidation|last1=Zvereva|first1=Polina|journal=Russia & CIS Observer|issue=26|volume=3|date=11 October 2009}}

The UAC, one of the so-called national champions and comparable to EADS in Europe, enjoyed considerable financial support from the Russian government, and injected money to the companies it had acquired to improve their financial standing. The deliveries of civilian aircraft increased to 6 in 2005, and in 2009 the industry delivered 15 civilian aircraft, worth 12.5 billion roubles, mostly to domestic customers.{{cite web|url=http://www.uacrussia.ru/common/img/uploaded/disclosure/Annual_Report_2009e.pdf |title=Annual Report 2009 |publisher=United Aircraft Corporation |year=2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801193817/http://www.uacrussia.ru/common/img/uploaded/disclosure/Annual_Report_2009e.pdf |archivedate=1 August 2013 }} Since then Russia has successfully tested the fifth generation jet fighter, Sukhoi Su-57, and started the commercial production of the regional airliner Sukhoi Superjet 100, as well as started developing a number of other major projects.

In a similar fashion, Putin created the United Shipbuilding Corporation in 2007, which led to the recovery{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} of shipbuilding in Russia. Since 2006, much effort was put into consolidation and development of the Rosatom Nuclear Energy State Corporation, which led to the renewed construction of nuclear power plants in Russia as well as a vast activity of Rosatom abroad, buying huge shares in world's leading uranium production companies and building nuclear power plants in many countries, including Iran, China, Vietnam and Belarus.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} In 2007, the Russian Nanotechnology Corporation was established, aimed to boost the science and technology and high-tech industry in Russia.[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704575304575296351402535266?KEYWORDS=Chubais Future Vision] The Wall Street Journal

File:RF NG pipestoEU.gif and gas supplier to much of Europe.]]

In the decade following 2000, energy in Russia helped transform the country, especially oil and gas energy. This transformation promoted Russia's well-being and international influence, and the country was frequently described in the media as an energy superpower.[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704129204575505373365685564 Russia, China in Deal On Refinery, Not Gas] by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen. The Wall Street Journal, 22 September 2010 Putin oversaw growing taxation of oil and gas exports which helped finance the budget, while the oil industry of Russia, production, and exports all significantly grew.

Putin sought to increase Russia's share of the European energy market by building submerged gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine and the New Europe (the countries which were often seen as non-reliable transit partners by Russia, especially following Russia-Ukraine gas disputes of the late 2000s (decade)). The pipeline projects backed by Putin include the Blue Stream from Russia to Turkey (build on the Black Sea bed), Nord Stream 1 from Russia to Germany (the longest sub-sea pipeline in the world, built through the Baltic Sea) and the planned South Stream from Russia to the Balkans and Italy (via the Black Sea). Russia also undermined the rival pipeline project Nabucco by buying the Turkmen gas and redirecting it into Russian pipelines.

On the other hand, Russia diversified its export markets by building the Trans-Siberian oil pipeline to the markets of China, Japan and Korea, as well as the Sakhalin–Khabarovsk–Vladivostok gas pipeline in the Russian Far East. Russia has built LNG plant on Sakhalin and is building another one in Primorye, aiming to increase the overseas gas exports. Meanwhile, in the Gulf of Finland Russia has built a major Ust-Luga port connected to the Baltic Pipeline System-II, which allowed the export of oil without transit through the ports of the Baltic states. The share of processed oil slowly grows with major oil refineries being built in Tatarstan and other regions of Russia.

Putin also presided over resuming the construction of major hydropower plants, such as the Bureya Dam and the Boguchany Dam, as well as the restoration of the nuclear industry of Russia, with some 1 trillion rubles ($42.7 billion) allocated from the federal budget to nuclear power and industry development before 2015.[http://amur.kp.ru/daily/24458/620649/ Russia builds nuclear power stations all over the world] at amur.kp.ru A large number of nuclear power stations and units are currently being constructed by the state corporation Rosatom in Russia and abroad.

In 2012, The Russian foreign agent law was passed {{Efn|Officially titled "On Amendments to Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation regarding the Regulation of the Activities of Non-profit Organisations Performing the Functions of a Foreign Agent"}} requires anyone who receives "support" from outside Russia or is under "influence" from outside Russia to register and declare themselves as "foreign agents".{{Cite web |date=2022-07-14 |title=Putin Signs Expanded 'Foreign Agents' Law |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/07/14/putin-signs-expanded-foreign-agents-law-a78298 |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}} Once registered, they are subject to additional audits and are obliged to mark all their publications with a 24-word disclaimer saying that they are being distributed by a "foreign agent".{{Cite news|date=2021-12-14|title=Russia fines investigative website for breaking 'foreign agent' law|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/russia-fines-investigative-website-breaking-foreign-agent-law-2021-12-14/|access-date=2021-12-31}} The phrase "foreign agent" ({{Langx|ru|иностранный агент|links=no}}) in Russian has strong associations with Cold War-era espionage.

In Early 2013, Putin submitted a bill that would ban Russian Cabinet members and other senior officials from having foreign bank accounts and owning foreign stock.{{cite web | url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/eastern-europe/putin-bans-officials-from-owning-foreign-accounts-320318.html | title=Putin bans officials from owning foreign accounts - Feb. 12, 2013 | date=12 February 2013 }} On April 25, 2013, The State Duma passed the bill banning government officials from holding overseas bank accounts and foreign-issued equities. The bill was backed by 443 deputies.{{cite web | url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2013/04/25/duma-passes-foreign-accounts-bill-in-final-reading-a23610 | title=Duma Passes Foreign Accounts Bill in Final Reading | date=25 April 2013 }}

On May 7, 2013, President Putin signed the new law (“Law 79-FZ”) forbidding government officials from holding overseas bank accounts.

Putin's government uses Natalist policies by offering rewards and promoting larger families.{{cite web |title=Putin's Family Values |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/putins-family-values |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512105033/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/putins-family-values |archive-date=May 12, 2017}}

In August 2022, Russia revived the Soviet-era Mother Heroine award for women with 10 children.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-08-18 |title=Putin revives Stalin-era 'Mother Heroine' award for women with 10 children |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/18/europe/putin-mother-heroine-award-decree-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Putin revives Soviet 'Mother Heroine' award for women who have 10 children |date=17 August 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819143212/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/17/russia-ukraine-putin-mother-heroine-award-children/ |archive-date=19 August 2022 |url-status=live |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/17/russia-ukraine-putin-mother-heroine-award-children/}}{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Jenni |date=2022-08-18 |title=Russia is offering a hero's medal and $16,000 to women who have 10 kids |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/18/russia-offers-mother-heroine-medal-and-16800-for-having-10-children.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

In November 2024, Putin signed a bill into law that bans 'Childfree Propaganda’ to boost birthrates in Russia.[https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/11/24/putin-signs-child-free-propaganda-bill-into-law-en-news]

{{main|Arctic policy of Russia}}

File:Pyotr Velikiy battlecruiser 4.jpg during the Northern Fleet manoeuvres in the Barents Sea, 2005.]]

Putin has sought to increase Russian military and economic presence in the Arctic. In August 2007, a Russian expedition named Arktika 2007, led by Artur Chilingarov, planted a Russian flag on the seabed below the North Pole to underline Russia's 2001 claim submission.{{cite news|author=William J. Broad|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/world/europe/19arctic.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1311810481-IXSrMDBjzhfGopGmYcf6tw|title=Russia's Claim Under Polar Ice Irks American|work=The New York Times|date=19 February 2008|accessdate=27 July 2011}} In June 2008 General Vladimir Shamanov announced that Russia would increase the operational radius of its Northern Fleet submarines.{{cite news|author=Adrian Blomfield|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/2111507/Russia-plans-Arctic-military-build-up.html|title=Russia plans Arctic military build-up|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 June 2008|accessdate=27 July 2011|location=London}} and in July 2011, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced plans for two brigades to be stationed in the Arctic.{{cite web|author=Mia Bennett|url=http://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2011/07/04/russia-arctic-states-solidifying-northern-military-presence/|title=Russia, Like Other Arctic States, Solidifies Northern Military Presence|publisher=Foreign Policy Association|date=4 July 2011|accessdate=27 July 2011}}

A construction program of floating nuclear power plants will provide power to Russian Arctic coastal cities and gas rigs. A 21,500-ton barge with twin 35-megawatt reactors, the Akademik Lomonosov, will go into operation in 2012.{{cite news|author=Richard Galpin|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11381773|title=The struggle for Arctic riches|work=BBC News|date=22 September 2010|accessdate=28 August 2011}}{{cite magazine|author=Peter Fairley|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/russia-launches-floating-nuclear-power-plant|title=Russia Launches Floating Nuclear Power Plant|magazine=IEEE Spectrum|date=2 July 2010|access-date=28 August 2011}} The Prirazlomnoye field, an offshore oilfield in the Pechora Sea that will include up to 40 wells, is currently under construction and drilling is expected to start in early 2012. It will have the world's first ice-resistant oil platform and will also be the first offshore Arctic platform.{{cite web|url=http://www.istockanalyst.com/business/news/5379031/gazprom-starts-towing-of-prirazlomnoye-platform-to-field|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103100728/http://www.istockanalyst.com/business/news/5379031/gazprom-starts-towing-of-prirazlomnoye-platform-to-field|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Gazprom starts towing of Prirazlomnoye platform to field|publisher=iStockAnalyst|date=25 August 2011|accessdate=28 August 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.itar-tass.com/c32/212487_print.html |title=Prirazlmonaya sea platform to be delivered to offshore oil field |publisher=ITAR-TASS |date=26 August 2011 |accessdate=28 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125063959/http://www.itar-tass.com/c32/212487_print.html |archivedate=25 January 2012 }}

In August 2011 Rosneft, a Russian government-operated oil company, signed a deal with ExxonMobil to receive oil assets in exchange for the joint development of Russian Arctic resources by both companies.{{cite news|author=Andrew Kramer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/business/global/exxon-and-rosneft-partner-in-russian-oil-deal.html|title=Exxon Reaches Arctic Oil Deal With Russians|date=30 August 2011|accessdate=5 September 2011|work=The New York Times}} The agreement includes a $3.2 billion hydrocarbon exploration of the Kara and Black seas,{{cite news|author=Melodie Warner |url=https://www.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110830-709465.html |title=Exxon Mobil, Rosneft To Jointly Develop Hydrocarbon Resources Globally |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=30 August 2011 |accessdate=5 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523003657/http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110830-709465.html |archivedate=23 May 2012 }} as well as joint development of ice-resistant drilling platforms and other Arctic technologies.{{cite web|author=Roger Howard|url=http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/business-views/163674-how-arctic-oil-could-break-new-ground.html|title=How Arctic oil could break new ground|work=The Guardian|date=4 September 2011|accessdate=5 September 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802035336/http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/business-views/163674-how-arctic-oil-could-break-new-ground.html|archivedate=2 August 2013}} "The scale of the investment is very large. It's scary to utter such huge figures" said Putin on signing the deal.

{{main|Environment of Russia|Environmental issues in Russia}}

File:Vladimir Putin Amur tiger August 2008-1.jpg to sedate an Amur tiger in the Ussuri Nature Reserve in Primorsky Krai, 2008.]]

In 2004, President Putin signed the Kyoto Protocol treaty designed to reduce greenhouse gases.The New York Times. 6 November 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2008. However, Russia did not face mandatory cuts because the Kyoto Protocol limits emissions to a percentage increase or decrease from 1990 levels and Russia's greenhouse-gas emissions fell well below the 1990 baseline due to a drop in economic output after the breakup of the Soviet Union.{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/13640/g8s_gradual_move_toward_postkyoto_climate_change_policy.html|title=G8's Gradual Move toward Post-Kyoto Climate Change Policy|author=Tony Johnson|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations|accessdate=2 March 2010|archive-date=29 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229130613/http://www.cfr.org/publication/13640/g8s_gradual_move_toward_postkyoto_climate_change_policy.html|url-status=dead}}

Putin personally supervises and/or promotes a number of protection programmes for rare and endangered animals in Russia:

• The Amur tiger Programme[http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/tiger/ THE AMUR TIGER PROGRAMME] premier.gov.ru {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922002142/http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/tiger/ |date=22 September 2011 }}
• The white whale Programme[http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/beluha/ THE WHITE WHALE PROGRAMME] premier.gov.ru {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613063658/http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/beluha/ |date=13 June 2012 }}
• The polar bear Programme[http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/bear/ THE POLAR BEAR PROGRAMME] premier.gov.ru {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613064004/http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/bear/ |date=13 June 2012 }}
• The snow leopard Programme[http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/leopard/ THE SNOW LEOPARD PROGRAMME] premier.gov.ru {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613063809/http://premier.gov.ru/patron/en/leopard/ |date=13 June 2012 }}

{{main|Religion in Russia}}

Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism, defined by law as Russia's traditional religions and a part of Russia's "historical heritage"{{Cite book|author=Bell, I|title=Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EPP3ti4hysUC&pg=PA47|isbn=978-1-85743-137-7|year=2002|publisher=Taylor & Francis }} enjoyed limited state support in the Putin era. The vast construction and restoration of churches, started in 1990s, continued under Putin, and the state allowed the teaching of religion in schools (parents are provided with a choice for their children to learn the basics of one of the traditional religions or secular ethics). His approach to religious policy has been characterised as one of support for religious freedoms, but also the attempt to unify different religions under the authority of the state.A religion for the nation or a nation for the religion: Putin's third way for Russia, Beth Admiraal, in Russian Nationalism and the National Reassertion of Russia, edited by Marlène Laruelle, (Routledge, 2009) In 2012, Putin was honored in Bethlehem and a street was named after him.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-27/bethlehem-street-named-after-putin/4094628 |title=Bethlehem street named after Putin |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=27 June 2012 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}

File:Vladimir Putin 21 February 2001-2.jpg

Putin regularly attends the most important services of the Russian Orthodox Church on the main Orthodox Christian holidays. He established a good relationship with Patriarchs of the Russian Church, the late Alexy II of Moscow and the current Kirill of Moscow. As President, he took an active personal part in promoting the Act of Canonical Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate, signed 17 May 2007 that restored relations between the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia after the 80-year schism.{{cite press release|title=he President of Russia attended the ceremonial signing of the Act on Canonical Communion that was held in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour |publisher=Embassy of Russia in Ottawa |date=17 May 2007 |url=http://www.rusembcanada.mid.ru/pr2007/022.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211074427/http://www.rusembcanada.mid.ru/pr2007/022.html |archivedate=11 December 2008 |accessdate=2 October 2008 |url-status=live }} Archived by WebCite at

Putin and United Russia enjoy high electoral support in the national republics of Russia, in particular in the Muslim-majority republics of Povolzhye and the North Caucasus.

Under Putin, the Hasidic FJCR became increasingly influential within the Jewish community, partly due to the influence of Federation-supporting businessmen mediated through their alliances with Putin, notably Lev Leviev and Roman Abramovich.No love lost, Yossi Mehlman, Haaretz, 11 December 2005Phyllis Berman Lea Goldman, (15 September 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20030905120347/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2003/0915/108_print.html "Cracked De Beers"]. Forbes According to the JTA, Putin is popular amongst the Russian Jewish community, who see him as a force for stability. Russia's chief rabbi, Berel Lazar, said Putin "paid great attention to the needs of our community and related to us with a deep respect."{{cite web|last=Krichevsky |first=Lev |url=http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/Article.aspx?id=241225 |title="In Putin's return, Russian Jews see stability". Jewish Telegraphic Agency|work=Jerusalem Post|date= 10 October 2011 |accessdate=22 June 2013}}

One of the 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia has a Constitutional references to God.

{{main|Russian military reform}}

The resumption of long-distance flights of Russia's strategic bombers was followed by the announcement by Russian Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov during his meeting with Putin on 5 December 2007, that 11 ships, including the aircraft carrier Kuznetsov, would take part in the first major navy sortie into the Mediterranean since Soviet times.[http://president.kremlin.ru/appears/2007/12/05/1940_type63378_153373.shtml Beginning of Meeting with Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608051601/http://president.kremlin.ru/appears/2007/12/05/1940_type63378_153373.shtml |date=8 June 2008 }}, 5 December 2007, Kremlin.ru The sortie was to be backed up by 47 aircraft, including strategic bombers.Guy Faulconbridge [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-navy-idUSL0518563620071205 Russian navy to start sorties in Mediterranean]. Reuters. 5 December 2007.

File:Vladimir Putin Cockpit TU-160 Bomber.jpg strategic bomber before the flight, August 2005.]]

While from the early 2000s (decade) Russia started pumping more money into its military and defence industry, it was only in 2008 that the full-scale Russian military reform began, aimed to modernize Russian Armed Forces and made them significantly more effective. The reform was largely carried by Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov during Medvedev's presidency, under supervision of both Putin, as the Head of Government, and Medvedev, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces.

Key elements of the reform included reducing the armed forces to a strength of one million; reducing the number of officers; centralising officer training from 65 military schools into 10 'systemic' military training centres; creating a professional NCO corps; reducing the size of the central command; introducing more civilian logistics and auxiliary staff; elimination of cadre-strength formations; reorganising the reserves; reorganising the army into a brigade system; reorganising air forces into an air base system instead of regiments.{{cn|date=April 2023}}

The number of Russia's military districts was reduced to just 4. The term of draft service was reduced from two years to one, which put an end to the old harassment traditions in the army, since all conscripts became very close by draft age. The gradual transition to the majority professional army by the late 2010s was announced, and a large programme of supplying the Armed Forces with new military equipment and ships was started.

In spite of Putin's call for major investments in strategic nuclear weapons, these will fall well below the New START limits due to the retirement of aging systems.Kristensen, Hans M. [https://fas.org/blog/ssp/2012/10/newstart2012.php "New START Data Released: Nuclear Flatlining."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116152936/http://www.fas.org/blog/ssp/2012/10/newstart2012.php |date=16 January 2013 }} FAS, 3 October 2012.

{{main|2020 Russian constitutional referendum}}

On 20 January 2020, President Vladimir Putin submitted the draft amendments to the State Duma, expecting 14 articles to be changed in total:{{Cite web|title=Законопроект №885214-7|url=https://sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/885214-7|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626183844/https://sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/885214-7|archive-date=26 June 2020|access-date=5 July 2020|publisher=State Duma|language=ru}}{{Cite news|date=20 January 2020|title=Рабочая группа назвала требующие корректировки статьи Конституции|language=ru|work=RBC|url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/20/01/2020/5e25889f9a79477b5a1aeb55|url-status=live|access-date=5 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630051316/https://www.rbc.ru/politics/20/01/2020/5e25889f9a79477b5a1aeb55|archive-date=30 June 2020}}{{cite web|date=14 March 2020|title=Law on amendment to Russian Federation Constitution|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/acts/news/62988|access-date=15 March 2020|website=President of Russia}}{{cite web|title=Полный текст поправок в Конституцию: что меняется?|date=March 14, 2020|url=http://duma.gov.ru/news/48045/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410065440/http://duma.gov.ru/news/48045/|publisher=State Duma|access-date=2 June 2020|archive-date=10 April 2020|language=ru|url-status=live}}

• the Russian constitution will supersede international law;
• the State Duma will have the right to approve a Prime Minister's candidacy (currently it only gives consent to the appointment), and it will also be able to approve candidates for Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister;{{clarify|date=July 2020}} the President will not be able to refuse their appointment, but in some cases will be able to remove them from office;
• the eligibility term requiring competing candidates for high-profile offices (President, Ministers, judges, heads of regions) to have no foreign citizenship or permit of residence in foreign countries, or have it at the time of their work in the office or, at any time before running for the President;
• the minimal residency requirement for presidential candidates will be raised from 10 years to 25;
• the Federation Council will be able to propose to the President to dismiss Federal judges; in some cases, the Federation Council, on the proposal of the President, will have the right to remove judges of the Constitutional and Supreme courts;
• heads of law enforcement agencies must be appointed by the President in consultation with the Federation Council;
• the minimum wage cannot be lower than the subsistence minimum;
• regular indexation of pensions;
• consolidation of the status and role of the State Council (at present it is only an advisory body and is not prescribed in the Constitution);
• granting the Constitutional Court the ability to check the constitutionality of laws adopted by the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation at the request of the President before they are signed by the President;
• removal of the term "in a row" ({{langx|ru|подряд|podryad}}) from the article regulating presidential term limits, discounting previous and current terms before the amendment entered into force;
• defining marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman;{{cite news|last1=Kramer|first1=Andrew E.|date=3 March 2020|title=Putin Proposes Constitutional Ban on Gay Marriage|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/03/world/europe/putin-proposes-constitutional-ban-on-gay-marriage.html|access-date=8 June 2020}}{{cite news|last=Roth|first=Andrew|date=2 March 2020|title=Putin submits plans for constitutional ban on same-sex marriage|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/vladimir-putin-submits-plan-enshrine-marriage-between-man-woman-russia|access-date=8 June 2020}}{{cite news|date=2 March 2020|title=Putin Proposes to Enshrine God, Heterosexual Marriage in Constitution|work=The Moscow Times|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/03/02/putin-proposes-to-enshrine-god-heterosexual-marriage-in-constitution-a69491|access-date=8 June 2020}}
• enshrine the status of the Russian language in the country's constitution.{{Cite web|date=6 June 2020|title=Parliament speaker calls for preserving Russian language as national heritage|url=https://tass.com/society/1164887|website=TASS}}{{Cite news|last1=Dixon|first1=Robyn|author-link=Robyn Dixon (journalist)|date=21 June 2020|title=Russia uses prizes and patriotism to push vote to change constitution. There's scant mention of the real goal: keeping Putin in power.|newspaper=The Washington Post|location=Moscow|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-uses-prizes-and-patriotism-to-urge-vote-on-changing-constitution-but-scant-mention-of-keeping-putin-in-power/2020/06/20/e79ea850-afcb-11ea-98b5-279a6479a1e4_story.html|url-access=limited}}

• Russia under Vladimir Putin
• Foreign policy of Vladimir Putin

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Vladimir Putin}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Domestic policies Of Vladimir Putin}}

Category:Vladimir Putin

Putin, Vladimir

Category:History of Russia (1991–present)