Since August 9, 1999, Vladimir Putin has been serving as either the prime minister or president of Russia. What strategies did this ex-KGB agent use to continually consolidate his authority?

Primarily as a mere formality, Vladimir Putin was reaffirmed in his position during the Russian presidential elections, securing 52.9% of the votes on March 26, 2000.

The outcome of the election was predetermined. On December 31, 1999, when Boris Yeltsin suddenly stepped down from his position, Putin, having served as prime minister since August 9, 1999, assumed the presidency according to the constitutional rules.

Putin has currently held power for for 25 years , adopting a strategic approach to his ascent as the autocratic and unchallenged leader of Russia, despite not serving as president for a brief period.

An opening at the Kremlin

According to the Russian constitution at that time, which prohibited presidents from serving for more than two consecutive terms, there was an opening in the elections scheduled for May 7, 2008.

Putin's confidant Dmitry Medvedev, former Chairman of the Gazprom Supervisory Board, replaced Putin in office. One day later, Russia's parliament, the Duma, elected Putin as the new head of government with 87.1% of the vote at Medvedev's suggestion. Even though Medvedev now held the highest office, Putin continued to pull the strings behind the scenes.

Over the span of these 25 years, the Russian president has turned his nation into what Mikhail Komin, a Russian political analyst, describes as the "most powerful personalized dictatorship globally."

He stated to Sport.Bangjo.co.id that this situation arose due to Putin's continuous efforts over the past twenty-five years, during which he has systematically weakened all of Russia's political institutions while maintaining his grip on power.

Regional control as the foundation of power

Komin stated that everything started with the elimination of regional self-governance. The Kremlin established its mechanism of control over the Russian territories, setting the stage for centralizing authority.

A Finnish-based Russian political analyst, Grigory Nishnikov, echoes this sentiment. He explained to Sport.Bangjo.co.id, “When looking at the Russia during the initial years of Putin’s leadership, multiple autonomous hubs of influence existed—both formal and informal—including influential tycoons. These entities acted somewhat independently from the Kremlin.”

Nishnikov stated that Putin dismantled everything, centralized authority, and concentrated Russia's power structure around himself.

Nevertheless, he thinks this is not the sole explanation for why the Russian president has maintained his grip on power for such an extended period. Numerous occurrences throughout the last quarter-century might have posed risks to Putin, including but not limited to:

• The demonstrations at Moscow's Bolotnaya Square after the 2011 parliamentary elections,

• the potential for unrest in Crimea following its annexation by Ukraine in 2014,

• the unrest that followed the controversial pension reform in 2018,

• large-scale demonstrations in solidarity with the deceased Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny throughout Russia in the coming years,

• The beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in early 2022, coinciding with demonstrations in the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Yet, each instance of public defiance was met with increased oppression. "Moreover, fresh opponents were systematically neutralized during these occurrences," stated Nishnikov. Consequently, he doubts that there is still anyone remaining capable of contesting Putin’s authority.

Putin and Trump: Kindred Spirits?

Regarding international relations, indications point towards improved diplomatic ties between the United States and Russia starting during US President Donald Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2021. Their inaugural face-to-face encounter occurred in July 2018 at the Russia–US summit held in Helsinki.

"According to political scientist and historian Helmut Müller-Enbergs, for Putin, Trump represents the most significant boon of his political career," he stated during an interview with the German news outlet T-Online.

As pointed out by the specialist from the University of Southern Denmark, this has become clear throughout talks aimed at achieving a truce Between Russia and Ukraine, Putin reportedly presented Trump with “[Ukraine's] natural resources and the chance to fulfill an electoral pledge” as a way to conclude the conflict.

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has lately suggested to foreign media that President Trump and President Putin share a strong rapport and communicate with each other more frequently than was initially believed.

Deterioration of the judicial system is another crucial aspect.

Komin pointed out that another significant element allowing Putin to maintain control was the intentional erosion of judicial strength during his second term. Justices who were aligned with the government received increased authority over their fellow judges.

Consequently, according to Komin, Russian courts have lost their independence. At most, they can only delay the government's repressive actions toward individuals, but they cannot completely halt these processes anymore.

These issues have worsened due to alterations in the electoral process that benefit Putin and his governing party, United Russia.

Putin's 'shadow cabinet'

Rather than confronting a democratic opposition, Putin has formed a sort of parallel administration, as stated by Russian sociologist Alexander Bikbov. According to Bikbov, the president has brought together individuals who share particular business ventures with him within his close-knit group.

Their firms have received significant government contracts, resulting in substantial profits for them. According to Bikbov, " Putin consistently maintains control and takes personal interest in these ventures."

Meanwhile, society is presented with a portrayal of Russia where the nation has consistently had a constructive influence throughout its entirety. Every unfavorable element is omitted, every previous dispute wiped from view, according to Bikbov. This he refers to as the "shaping of shared historical recollection." Such manipulation also bolsters Putin’s authority.

This story depicts Russia as a community grounded in conventional beliefs; a place where disputes with officials are frowned upon, and unwavering devotion to those in authority is not only celebrated but also expected without question.

All three experts consulted by Sport.Bangjo.co.id concur that these trends will become more pronounced in the future, with Putin expected to retain his position of power for an extended period. "The issue lies in the absence of viable alternatives and the lack of space for such candidates," stated Komin. "Putin genuinely triumphed in the 2004 elections; everything after that has lacked fairness."

Nishnikov additionally remarked that Russians perceive no viable alternatives to Putin and often feel apprehensive about change. He notes that there has consistently been a preference in Russia for a "firm rule" within the government.

"They have consistently desired a powerful leader who can take charge and address issues. When uncertain, Russians tend to voice their complaints about local governors rather than the president, often saying something like: Were Putin aware of this situation, he would resolve it right away! " This tendency, according to Nishnikov, represents an enduring Russian custom.

The article was initially composed in German.

Correction, August 10, 2024: A previous version of this article incorrectly spelled the name of Russian sociologist Alexander Bikbov. Sport.Bangjo.co.id apologizes for the mistake.

The article was initially released on August 8, 2024, and later revised on March 25, 2025, to incorporate new information.

Author: Juri Rescheto