Editing History of Russia (section)

===Era of Putin===
{{See also|Russia under Vladimir Putin|Opposition to Vladimir Putin in Russia}}
[[File:Moscow rally 12 June 2012, Trubnaya Square (01).jpg|thumb|[[2011–2013 Russian protests]] against the conduct of Russia's parliamentary elections]]
[[File:Putin with Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergey Aksyonov and Alexey Chaly 4.jpeg|thumb|left|[[Vladimir Putin]] and pro-Russian Crimea leaders sign the [[Treaty on Accession of the Republic of Crimea to Russia]] in 2014.]]
In 2000, the new acting president won the presidential election on 26 March and won in a landslide four years later.<ref name="BBC Putin Elections">{{cite news |title=Putin's hold on the Russians |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/667749.stm |work=BBC |date=28 June 2007 |access-date=22 July 2007 |quote=In the 2000 election, he took 53% of the vote in the first round and, four years later, was re-elected with a landslide majority of 71%. |archive-date=17 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217072041/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/667749.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Second Chechen war ended with the victory of Russia. After the 11 September terrorist attacks, there was a rapprochement between Russia and the United States. Putin created a system of [[guided democracy]] in Russia by subjugating parliament, suppressing independent media and placing major oil and gas companies under state control.

International observers were alarmed by moves in late 2004 to further tighten the presidency's control over parliament, civil society, and regional officeholders.<ref name="BBC Putin Elections2">{{cite news |title=Putin's hold on the Russians |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/667749.stm |work=BBC |date=28 June 2007 |access-date=22 July 2007 |quote=But his critics believe that it has come at the cost of some post-communist democratic freedoms.", "2003: General election gives Putin allies control over parliament" |archive-date=17 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217072041/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/667749.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2008, [[Dmitri Medvedev]], Putin's head of staff, was elected President. In 2012, Putin became president again, prompting [[2011–2013 Russian protests|massive protests in Moscow]].

Russia's long-term problems include a shrinking workforce, rampant corruption, and underinvestment in infrastructure.<ref name=cia/> Nevertheless, reversion to a [[Socialism|socialist]] [[command economy]] seemed almost impossible.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Russian Federation Today|url=http://www.guidetorussia.org/history/russia-today.html|work=Guide to Russia's HISTORY OF RUSSIA|access-date=12 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507083512/http://www.guidetorussia.org/history/russia-today.html|archive-date=7 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The economic problems are aggravated by massive capital outflows, as well as extremely difficult conditions for doing business, due to pressure from the security forces ''[[Siloviki]]'' and government agencies.

Due to high oil prices, from 2000 to 2008, Russia's GDP at PPP doubled.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=1998&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=60&pr1.y=4&c=922&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP&grp=0&a=| title = Russia's GDP according to the World Bank| access-date = 26 August 2020| archive-date = 28 January 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210128120120/https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=1998&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=60&pr1.y=4&c=922&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP&grp=0&a=| url-status = live}}</ref> Although high oil prices and a relatively cheap ruble initially drove this growth, since 2003 consumer demand and, more recently, investment have played a significant role.<ref name=cia>CIA World Fact Book – Russia</ref> Russia is well ahead of most other resource-rich countries in its economic development, with a long tradition of education, science, and industry.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2006/gb20061207_520461_page_2.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061213231938/http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2006/gb20061207_520461_page_2.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 13 December 2006| title = Russia: How Long Can The Fun Last?}} ''Bloomberg BusinessWeek''</ref> Russia hosted the [[2014 Winter Olympic Games]] in Sochi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Sochi-2014-Olympic-Winter-Games |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922092118/https://www.britannica.com/event/Sochi-2014-Olympic-Winter-Games |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Kyiv after Russian shelling, 2022-10-10 (073).webp|thumb|right|A street in [[Kyiv]] following [[Attacks on civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian missile strikes]] on 10 October 2022]]
In 2014, following a controversial [[2014 Crimean status referendum|referendum]], in which separation was favored by a large majority of voters according to official results,<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 March 2014 |title=Crimea referendum: Voters 'back Russia union' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26606097 |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=17 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617132157/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26606097 |url-status=live }}</ref> the Russian leadership announced the accession of Crimea into the Russian Federation,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Myers |first1=Steven Lee |last2=Barry |first2=Ellen |date=18 March 2014 |title=Putin Reclaims Crimea for Russia and Bitterly Denounces the West |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/world/europe/ukraine.html |access-date=4 October 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102070617/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/world/europe/ukraine.html |url-status=live }}</ref> thus starting the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]]. Following Russia's [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexation of Crimea]] and alleged Russian interference in the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in eastern Ukraine]], [[International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War|international sanctions]] were imposed on Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2015 |title=NATO Review - Sanctions after Crimea: Have they worked? |url=https://www.nato.int/docu/review/articles/2015/07/13/sanctions-after-crimea-have-they-worked/index.html |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=NATO Review |language=en |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004110114/https://www.nato.int/docu/review/articles/2015/07/13/sanctions-after-crimea-have-they-worked/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 4 December 2011, [[2011 Russian legislative election|elections to the State Duma]] were held, as a result of which [[United Russia]] won for the third time in a row. The official voting results caused [[2011–2013 Russian protests|significant protests]] in the country; a number of political scientists and journalists noted various falsifications on election day.<ref>[http://www.vedomosti.ru/opinion/news/4185301/karfagen_dolzhen_byt_razrushen?full#cut Государственная дума должна быть переизбрана] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101093052/http://www.vedomosti.ru/opinion/news/4185301/karfagen_dolzhen_byt_razrushen?full#cut |date=1 January 2014 }} // Vedomosti, 21 September 2012.</ref> In 2012, according to another pre-election agreement, a "[[castling]]" took place;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ria.ru/20111017/462644720.html |title=Путин заявил, что договорился с Медведевым о "рокировке" 4 года назад |date=17 October 2011 |trans-title=Putin said that he agreed with Medvedev on “castling” 4 years ago |access-date=18 December 2019 |archive-date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218165203/https://ria.ru/20111017/462644720.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Vladimir Putin again became president and Dmitry Medvedev took over as chairman of the government, after which the protests acquired an anti-Putin orientation, but soon began to decline.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bidder |first1=Benjamin |last2=Offenberg |first2=Anastasia |title=Protest gegen Putin: Russlands Schneerevolution schmilzt |trans-title=Protest against Putin: Russia's snow revolution is melting |url=https://www.inopressa.ru/article/12mar2012/spiegel/kremlin1.html |publisher=InoPressa |date=12 March 2012 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20170328015637/https://www.inopressa.ru/article/12mar2012/spiegel/kremlin1.html |archivedate = 28 March 2017}}</ref>

Since 2015, Russia has been conducting [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War|military intervention in Syria]] in support of the Bashar al-Assad regime.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian Lessons from the Syrian Operation and the Culture of Military Innovation |url=http://www.marshallcenter.org/en/publications/security-insights/russian-lessons-syrian-operation-and-culture-military-innovation |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=www.marshallcenter.org |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010023751/https://www.marshallcenter.org/en/publications/security-insights/russian-lessons-syrian-operation-and-culture-military-innovation |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2018, Vladimir Putin was re-elected for a fourth presidential term.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 2018 |title=Vladimir Putin secures record win in Russian presidential election |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/19/vladimir-putin-secures-record-win-in-russian-presidential-election |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008050454/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/19/vladimir-putin-secures-record-win-in-russian-presidential-election |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2022, Russia launched the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-putin-authorises-military-operations-donbass-domestic-media-2022-02-24/|title=Russia's Putin authorises 'special military operation' against Ukraine|website=Reuters|date=24 February 2022|access-date=3 April 2022|archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224032217/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-putin-authorises-military-operations-donbass-domestic-media-2022-02-24/|url-status=live}}</ref> which was denounced by [[NATO]] and the [[European Union]]. They aided Ukraine and imposed massive [[International sanctions during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/global-markets-wrapup-2-2022-02-28/|title=Stocks fall, ruble dives as Russia sanctions hit world markets|website=Reuters|date=28 February 2022|access-date=3 April 2022|archive-date=29 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329192031/https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/global-markets-wrapup-2-2022-02-28/|url-status=live}}</ref> A leading banker in Moscow said the damage might take a decade to recover, as half of its international trade has been lost.<ref>"Russian economy may need a decade to return to pre-sanctions levels, Sberbank says" [https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russian-economy-may-need-decade-return-pre-sanctions-levels-sberbank-says-2022-06-17/ (Reuters, 17 June 2022)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717080002/https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russian-economy-may-need-decade-return-pre-sanctions-levels-sberbank-says-2022-06-17/ |date=17 July 2022 }}</ref> Despite international opposition, Russia officially annexed the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] and the [[Luhansk People's Republic]], along with most of the [[Kherson Oblast|Kherson]] and [[Zaporizhzhia Oblast]]s on 30 September.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maynes |first=Charles |date=30 September 2022 |title=Putin illegally annexes territories in Ukraine, in spite of global opposition |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/09/30/1126020895/russia-ukraine-putin-annexation |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005022304/https://www.npr.org/2022/09/30/1126020895/russia-ukraine-putin-annexation |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the [[United Nations]], Russia has committed [[War crimes in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|war crimes]] during the invasion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 September 2022 |title=War crimes have been committed in Ukraine conflict, top UN human rights inquiry reveals |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1127691 |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=UN News |language=en |archive-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204135626/https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1127691 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 June 2023, the [[Wagner Group]], a Russian paramilitary organization led by [[Yevgeny Prigozhin]], [[Wagner Group rebellion|rebelled]] against the government.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yeung |first=Jessie |date=25 June 2023 |title=Moscow has stepped back from civil war with Wagner. But the danger's not over, experts warn |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/25/europe/russia-prigozhin-wagner-insurrection-belarus-explainer-intl-hnk/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=29 June 2023 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629114019/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/25/europe/russia-prigozhin-wagner-insurrection-belarus-explainer-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As of August 2023, the total number of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers [[Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian War|killed or wounded]] during the Russian invasion of Ukraine was nearly 500,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 August 2023 |title=Troop Deaths and Injuries in Ukraine War Near 500,000, U.S. Officials Say |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/us/politics/ukraine-russia-war-casualties.html |last1=Cooper |first1=Helene |last2=Gibbons-Neff |first2=Thomas |last3=Schmitt |first3=Eric |last4=Barnes |first4=Julian E. |access-date=3 September 2023 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903175102/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/us/politics/ukraine-russia-war-casualties.html |url-status=live }}</ref>