Vladimir Putin (1952) is a Russian politician. Putin was born in Leningrad, a city known by that name since 1924, now known as Saint Petersburg since 1991, formerly known as Petrograd since 1914, and originally named Saint Petersburg in or before 1712. Putin is the current President of the Russian Federation, holding the office since 7 May 2012. Putin was Prime Minister from 1999 to 2000, President from 2000 to 2008, and again Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012. During his second term as Prime Minister, he was the Chairman of the ruling United Russia Party.