President of Russia Vladimir Putin is celebrating his birthday.

Putin was born on 7 October 1952 in Leningrad. Until 1965, he attended a secondary school of general education, after which he entered a specialised secondary school with an advanced study of chemistry. Later, he became a student at the Faculty of Law at Leningrad State University named after A. A. Zhdanov (now St. Petersburg State University).

On 31 December 1999, Putin became Acting President of Russia, and on 26 March 2000, he was elected Head of the Russian State through a nationwide vote.

He was subsequently re-elected to this position in 2004, 2012, 2018, and 2024. Between 2008 and 2012, when Dmitry Medvedev served as President, Putin held the post of Chairman of the Government.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russia has hosted several major international events, including the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In addition, with Russia’s active participation, key international groups were established – BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) – which have strengthened the country’s position on the global stage.

On the Russian leader's birthday, he is traditionally congratulated by foreign heads of state and government, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a telephone conversation, Modi expressed his anticipation of meeting with Putin in December at the 23rd annual Russia-India summit. Warm congratulations were also extended by President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping.

Among the first to send a congratulatory message was President of Belarus Aleksander Lukashenko, who wished Putin good health, happiness, and success in his high state office.

“The Russian people firmly associate your name with significant social achievements, dynamic economic development, the strengthening of statehood and sovereignty of the Motherland, as well as the growth of Russia’s authority and influence in the world,” Lukashenko emphasised.

President of Bolivia Luis Arce also wished Vladimir Putin good health and personal success. President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel likewise conveyed his sincere congratulations to the Russian leader.

Putin was also congratulated by the Co-Presidents of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, who wished him good health and new accomplishments. During a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted Vladimir Putin’s contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership, good-neighbourly relations, and alliance between Astana and Moscow. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Head of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and other leaders of the CIS countries – President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, and President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov.

During a telephone conversation, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan also congratulated Vladimir Putin on his birthday and extended his warmest wishes..

Photo: kremlin.ru