Russian Presidential election. If Vladimir Putin, Russia’s longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin, wins a fourth term as president and serves until its end, he will near 25 years in power – almost as long as the revolutionary dictator’s 29-year rule. Putin came to power on August 9, 1999, after President Boris Yeltsin sacked Sergei Stepashin, the fourth prime minister to be dismissed in 17 months. To date, Soviet strongman Joseph Stalin is the longest-serving Russian leader, ruling for almost 30 years.
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