Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

After the graduation from the Leningrad State University as lawyer (1975), Vladimir Putin worked for the USSR Committee of State Security (KGB). In 1991 he quit his job as intelligence officer and received a position in the office of Saint Petersburg's mayor. In 1994-1996 he served as first deputy chairman of the Government of Saint Petersburg. In August 1996 Putin was called to Moscow to be appointed deputy office manager of the President of the Russian Federation. He continued his career as a deputy (from 26 Mar 1997) and first deputy (from 25 May 1998) to the Head of the President's Administration. Then Putin headed the Federal Security Agency as director (25 Jul 1998 - 9 Aug 1999) and also assumed the position of secretary of the Security Council (from 29 Mar 1999). On the eve of the resignation of the government headed by Sergey Stepashin, Putin was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the Government (9 Aug 1999) and the same day was named Acting Chairman. He was approved by the State Duma and appointed Chairman by decree of President Boris Yeltsin (16 Aug 1999). According to constitutional provisions, Putin as head of government temporarily assumed the duties of President after the resignation of Yeltsin (31 Dec 1999).