Putin was chosen by the Time magazine as its 'Person of the Year' in 2007 for his 'extraordinary feat of leadership in taking a country that was in chaos and bringing it stability'.
Holding the former KGB agent responsible for enabling Russia to 'roar back to the table of world power', Time believed Putin has the greatest influence on world events -- for better or for worse.
"He is dangerous in the sense that he doesn't care about civil liberties, he doesn't care about free speech. He cares about stability. But stability is what Russia needs. And that's why Russians adore him," Time's Managing Editor Richard Stengel said.
What apparently influenced the decision of Time's editors was the fact that Putin was expected to continue to play a major role in world affairs even after he stepped down as President. Now with Putin taking over as Russia's prime minister, it is easy to imagine where the power will rest and what impact it may have in the time to come.
Image: Vladimir Putin (right) is applauded at the United Russia Party Congress in Moscow on April 15 as President-elect Dmitry Medvedev (left) looks on.
Photograph: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: Video : Putin pats Medvedev
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