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This Happened

This Happened — March 4: Putin Is President Again

Vladimir Putin was re-elected as president of Russia on this day in 2012.

Why was Putin's re-election in 2012 controversial? 

Putin's re-election in 2012 was controversial due to allegations of election fraud and voter intimidation. The opposition also claimed that the government used its control over the media to favor Putin and smear his opponents. Additionally, some opposition figures were arrested or prevented from running in the election, leading to concerns about political repression.

How long has Putin been in power in Russia?

Vladimir Putin has been in power in Russia for over two decades. He was first elected as president in 2000, and has also served as prime minister and chairman of the ruling United Russia party. When he was re-elected in 2012, it was Putin's third time serving as president, after taking a four-year pause because of term limits.

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FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

How Much Does Xi Jinping Care About Putin's ICC Arrest Warrant?

After the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Moscow for a three-day visit. How far will he be willing to go to support Putin, a fugitive from international justice?

Photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev

Extended meeting of Russian Interior Ministry board on Monday, March 20

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — Since Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin said last year that the friendship between their nations was "boundless," the world has wondered where the limits really lie. The Chinese president's three-day visit to Russia, which began Monday, gives us an opportunity to assess.

Xi's visit is important in many ways, particularly because the International Criminal Court has just issued an arrest warrant against Putin for his role in forcibly sending thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. For Putin, there could be no better response to this international court, which he does not recognize, than to appear alongside the president of a great country, which, like Russia, is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council. How isolated can Putin really be, when the leader of 1.5 billion people in China comes to visit?

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