Ghost of the Machine: The Vladimir Putin Story

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin

By JIM PURCELL

There is a new idea in the United States today, by some, who cannot remember the Cold War, who never understood the threat that the former Soviet Union posed to the world and still does. Moreover, the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, despite his media savvy and colorful comments, remains a dangerous man and not someone Americans should see as "Uncle Vlad." 

IN THE BEGINNING
Putin was born on October 7, 1952 to Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin and Maria Ivanova Putina. He had two brothers, Viktor and Albert, both born during the mid-1930s.  His brother, Viktor, died of diphtheria during the Siege of Leningrad by the German Army (Sept. 8, 1941-Jan. 27, 1944). Meanwhile, Putin's brother, Albert, died when he was just an infant. 

Vladimir Putin

Maria Putina

Putin's mother was a factory worker, while his father was an Army conscript in the Soviet Navy, who served in the Soviet Submarine service during the 1930s, until the outbreak of World War II when he was assigned as a soldier in the NKVD's destruction battalion. Later, Putin's father served in the Regular Army until he was severely wounded in 1942.

Putin was born long after the war. He was focused since the very beginning of his childhood on one day becoming a Soviet intelligence officer. His passions then included judo and a martial art called sambo. In high school in St. Petersburg High School 281, he studied German and speaks the language fluently. 

Putin studied law at Saint Petersburg State University beginning in 1970. When he graduated in 1975, his thesis was "The Most Favored Nation Trading Principle in International Law."

IN THE KGB
After he graduated from university, Putin immediately joined the KGB. He initially trained, as many others before him, at the 401st KGB School in Okhta, in Saint Petersburg. Upon his graduation, Putin immediately began working in counter-intelligence. He was a counter-intelligence operator, monitoring foreigners and Soviet officials, until 1985, when he was transferred again. 

Putin: The KGB professional

In Dresden, East Germany, Putin used a cover identity as a translator. However, his actual job was serving as a soviet agent there. When the wall finally came down, separating East and West Germany, Putin admitted in his biography that he burned KGB files to prevent demonstrators from obtaining files that cataloged KGB atrocities in East Germany. So, following the fall of the border between the formerly two Germanies, Putin returned to Saint Petersburg University and began scouting potential recruits for the KGB.

But, Putin resigned his post at the KGB, as a lieutenant colonel, in August, 1991 -- on the second day of the coup d'etat against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Putin said, "As soon as the coup began, I immediately decided wich side I was on."

PUTIN'S RISE TO POWER
It was a banner year for Putin in 1999, when then-Russian President Boris Yeltsin dismissed his prime minister and promoted former KGB Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Putin to the position. Yeltsin then resigned and, in appointed Putin as president as he left office. It was not until 2008 that Putin could run for the presidency of the Russian Federation in his own right. So, he was appointed prime minsiter by his successor and also served as head of the Secret Police. Then, in March 2012 Putin attained his former post of president by the vote. 

Putin the master politician

Putin has remained in power since the election of 2008. He has no likely successor in the immediate or foreseen future. Though it is unlikely he will have a lifetime role as Russia's leader, under their system of government, with no term limits, it is open for him to serve decades in his post. 
In the old Soviet Union, Putin, as a counter-intelligence and espionage operative held great trust and had many connections, which eventually led him to the presidency. When he was constitutionally unable to occupy his current office, it was his colleagues from the former Soviet Union, and likely his associates at the former KGB that assisted greatly with him being appointed to high positions of power in the interim. Perhaps the organization of the KGB ceased operation, but not the political power brokers who were once at its heart. 

Why Putin among all others? Well, that is only known by the shadowy collective of former Soviet leaders who promoted his career. However, being a trusted KGB officer, who was a lawyer who had considerable knowledge about international law, and who was well-versed in German language did not hurt his case. If such a man were made the Russian president then he could help the Old Guard Soviet leadership maintain its power while creating a facade of change for the Russian people. 

WHERE WE ARE TODAY
This is where we find ourselves today, still living with the shadow of the former Soviet Union not just at Russia's chief executive, but no doubt still behind the curtain of power at the highest levels of the Russian Federation. 

Yes, Putin has talked a good game about paying court to democracy. But, then, like all politicians, his chore is sleight of hand. He is not the Soviet Union's agent of change for democracy. He is, in fact, its continued legacy. Lying is not above a known espionage operatives, or a former head of the Secret Police -- anyone's Secret Police. Mr. Putin could very well be a fail-safe against democracy by the Old Guard who was handpicked to carry on business as usual in the  new Russian Federation.

There are arguments that Putin made the last break with his former Old Guard masters when he fired his former chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, in August 2016. Is this a sign of his fatigue with his Soviet past? Could it be a ruse? Or, maybe, Putin has decided to go the route of a dictator. Only time will tell. 

For more information about Vladimir Putin click HERE.
For additional biographical material, click HERE.
For information about KGB power brokers after the fall of communism, click HERE.