President Vladimir Putin Celebrates His 74th Birthday,Who is Power for 26 Years in Russian
Moscow, Russia | October 7, 2026 | The Global Journal
Russian President Vladimir Putin is celebrating his 74th birthday today. Born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad in the former Soviet Union, Putin has remained at the center of Russia’s political power for nearly 26 years. Since taking office as acting president on the final day of 1999, he has established himself as one of the most influential figures in Russia’s domestic politics and foreign policy.
In 2026, Putin has remained active on several major international diplomatic platforms. During the year, he participated in the BRICS Summit, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and the Russia–ASEAN Summit. The meetings focused on multilateral cooperation, energy, technology, trade and economic relations, as well as strengthening engagement with countries across the Global South and East.
A Long Political Journey
Vladimir Putin graduated from the Faculty of Law at Leningrad State University in 1975. He later served in the Soviet security agency KGB and, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, held several important positions in Russia’s state administration.
On December 31, 1999, then-President Boris Yeltsin resigned, and Putin assumed the position of acting president. He was subsequently elected president of Russia for the first time in the election held on March 26, 2000.
Putin was re-elected in 2004. Due to constitutional term limits at the time, he served as Russia’s prime minister from 2008 to 2012, while Dmitry Medvedev served as president. Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 and was subsequently re-elected in 2018 and 2024.
Russia’s International Role and Major Events
During Putin’s long tenure in power, Russia has focused on maintaining its influence on the international stage and expanding cooperation through various multilateral frameworks.
During this period, Russia hosted major international events including the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. At the same time, Russia expanded cooperation with multilateral organisations and groupings including BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
In 2026, Putin’s participation in the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the SCO Summit in Bishkek and the Russia–ASEAN Summit in Kazan highlighted the continued importance of multilateral diplomacy in Russia’s foreign-policy agenda.
Growing Importance of Russia–China Relations
Relations with China have also remained an important part of Russia’s foreign-policy agenda in 2026. Alongside efforts to strengthen trade, economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries, Russia has expressed readiness to establish a permanent visa-free travel regime with China.
From Moscow’s perspective, strengthening ties with China and other Asian countries remains an important component of its broader multilateral and economic strategy.
Birthday Greetings
On his 74th birthday, Vladimir Putin is receiving congratulations from Russian government officials, political and public figures, as well as heads of state and government from various countries.
Over his long political career, Putin has become one of Russia’s longest-serving and most influential leaders. As he celebrates his 74th birthday on October 7, 2026, his decades-long political journey and role in Russia’s domestic and international affairs are once again drawing attention.
