Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin : Влади́мир Влади́мирович Пу́тин , born 7 October 1952) has been the president of Russia since 7 May 2012. . Dmitry Medvedew won the 2008 and appointed Putin as Minister, beginning a period of so-called tandemocracy. In September 2011, following a change in the law extending the presidential term from four years to six,Putin announced that he would seek a third, non-consecutive term as President in the 2012, an announcement which led to cites . In March 2012 he won the election, which was criticized for procedural irregularities, and is serving a six-year term.