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Putin Is Time's 'Person Of Year'

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The Associated Press

Published: December 20, 2007

NEW YORK - Russian President Vladimir Putin was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" on Wednesday for imposing stability that restored Russia as a world power.

The magazine recognized Putin's "extraordinary feat of leadership in taking a country that was in chaos and bringing it stability," said Richard Stengel, Time's managing editor.

The magazine noted that "Person of the Year" is not an honor or endorsement but a recognition of leadership that shapes the world.

"He's the new czar of Russia and he's dangerous in the sense that he doesn't care about civil liberties; he doesn't care about free speech," Stengel said.

In prizing stability over freedom, he's made Russia powerful again and beholden to no nation, the magazine said.

Putin, 55, is enormously popular in Russia, presiding over a resurgent economy flush with revenue from oil and natural gas. Critics say he has moved away from democracy by tightening control of the courts, parliament and the media.

Putin recently endorsed protege Dmitry Medvedev's presidential bid, and said he would accept Medvedev's offer to serve as prime minister if Medvedev is elected March 2. Many think Putin would remain Russia's real leader, regardless of his title, although Putin has said he would not undermine his successor.

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