AS Vladimir Putin celebrates 25 years of rule over Russia, his first speech as president resurfaced showing a slew of broken promises and the emergence of a very different leader.
A quarter of a century ago, on New Year’s Eve, Putin was first entrusted with force in the Kremlin.
Footage from his address on December 31, 1999, shows him committing himself to “freedom” and “democracy” for Russia.
Now, 25 years on, his main political foes have been killed or jailed, repression is rife, elections are rigged, and Europe is plunged into the worst conflict since WW2 with hundreds of thousands slaughtered.
The despot also managed a coup attempt and large-scale protests.
It was on the eve of the new millennium that Putin came into force when then-Russian President Boris Yeltsin suddenly resigned.
Yeltsin had saved Russia from Communist oppression, and given it the chance of a bright future
In quitting, he handed power to his little-known prime minister, former KGB spy Vladimir Putin who he knew would protect his interests.
“Why cling to power for six more months when the country has a strong leader who can be its president, a man on whom nearly all Russians are pinning their hopes for the future?” Yeltsin said during his resignation.
“Why stand in their way?”
Few could have guessed that Putin would be such a tyrant, having assassinated his main parties in conflict, Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny.
In 1999, the 47-year-old vowed: “Freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of the media, property rights – these fundamental elements of a civilised society will be reliably protected by the state.”
But that won’t be the case.
Historical images show him, seconds after the dawn of the new millennium in Moscow, making promises he betrayed over the years, enriching himself and his acolytes in palaces and secret fortunes while impoverishing his country.
Since then, Putin, now 72, has held on strong after the March 2000 election and was then re-elected in 2004, 2012, 2018 and 2024.
Between 2008 and 2012, he was Prime Minister, while maintaining his control over Russia, which still persists today and is very likely to continue.
Putin’s first act as President was to grant his predecessor Yeltsin immunity from corruption charges.
Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, told The Sun that Putin began his reign probably normally, but that megalomania had been present.
He said, “You don’t know anyone until they’re in that position of power. “
In his first address as leader on New Year’s Eve 25 years ago, Putin vowed there would not be a “power vacuum” in Russia.
He said: “Dear friends! Tonight, on New Year’s Eve, like you, I will hear the greeting words of Russian President Boris Yeltsin to my circle of family and friends. But it happened differently.
“Today, on 31 December 1999, the first President of Russia decided to resign. He asked me to address the country.
“Dear Russians! Dear compatriots! Today I have been entrusted with the position of Head of State.
“In three months’ time, the election of the President of Russia will take place. I draw your attention to the fact that there will not be a power vacuum in the country for a minute.
“There has not been and will not be. I want to warn you that any attempts to go beyond Russian laws, beyond the Russian Constitution, will be resolutely suppressed.
“Freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of the media, property rights – these fundamental elements of a civilised society will be reliably protected by the state.”
He continued: “The armed forces, the Federal Border Guard Service and law enforcement agencies are wearing down their paints as usual.
“The State has ensured and will continue to guarantee the protection of our citizens.
“In making his decision on the transfer of power, the President acted in full compliance with the Constitution of the country. It will only be possible to truly assess how much this man has done for Russia after some time.
“If it is already clear that Russia followed the path of democracy and reforms, that it did not deviate from that path and that it managed to establish itself as a strong and independent state, this is its wonderful merit.
“I would like to wish Boris Yeltsin, the first President of Russia, health and happiness.
“New Year’s Eve is the brightest, kindest and maximum holiday in Russia.
“As you know, dreams come true on New Year’s Day. And in such a normal New Year, even more so. All the smart things and all the smart things you’ve planned will come true.
“Dear friends! We are a few seconds away from the year 2000. Smile at our loved ones and at our friends.
“Let us wish warmth, happiness, love. And let us raise our glasses to the new century of Russia, to love and peace in our homes, to the health of our parents and children.
“Happy New Year! Happy New Century!”
Today, Putin’s strength appears to be more potent than ever, both inside and outside the country.
Russian forces have continued their war in Ukraine, while any and all challengers at home have been removed from the scene and Putin’s re-election has secured his place in power.
In his 25th New Year’s speech, which will be broadcast throughout Russia in each of the country’s time zones, Putin promised that Russia would “move forward” in 2025.
He said: “And now, on the threshold of the new year, we are thinking about the future. We are confident that everything will be fine, we will only move forward.
“We know for sure that the absolute value for us was, is and will be the fate of Russia, the well-being of its citizens,” he said.
The despot also paid tribute to those on the front lines in Ukraine, calling them “true heroes. ”
He announced that 2025 would be identified as the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland in Russia.
Just a few days ago, he told the BBC that Russia knelt when it took force and that its leaders had “brought it back from the abyss. “
“We are doomed to a generalized loss of sovereignty,” he said.
But, some believe that Putin’s iron grip on power is built on foundations of sand and could easily and quickly fall through his hands.
Last year, Putin came close to being overthrown in a coup attempt led by Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner Group.
Dr Mendoza said: “I think what the Prigozhin’s march told us was that the regime is only ever one step away from disaster, one step away from falling, and although Putin may have a superficial control over intelligence over the business community if a real threat emerges to his power, it’s very unclear whether he’d survive it.”
The Russia expert said that Putin was now less secure than he was five years ago as he hadn’t been able to achieve the decisive victory he pledged to in Ukraine.
“I think the biggest challenge he faces now is that he didn’t win the war in Ukraine,” Mendoza said.
“He promised he would win, and in a sense, for all the propagandizing and for all the storytelling, ordinary Russians will know that something is awry when Ukrainian drones strike Moscow.”
The aging leader will also raise fears about his successor as his fitness and age remain a concern.
The despot has a very different silhouette from that of 25 years ago.
In 1999, Putin was thin and young despite being in his 50s, while now he causes physical disruption with his swollen face, strange tremors and shaky legs.
Such considerations have led the Kremlin to include unprecedented comments and statements to combat the symbol of an aging and decrepit leader.
The Kremlin’s concerns about the president’s “strongman” image come after it took a hit due to dramatic changes in his appearance.
He realized that he was hunting exhausted, out of breath, having difficulty walking and making strange faces.
There have also been times when Putin appeared to be in some kind of pain as he strongly gripped tables while in meetings, sparking rumours of Parkinson’s.
Around the same time, in 2022, experts began to notice her “swollen” and “weakened” appearance, with some claiming she may have had thyroid cancer.
It was initially suggested that Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine on February 24 may have been sparked by his failing physical condition.
But the Kremlin continues to deny that the dictator has any problems.
With Putin’s succession uncertain, Russia could simply enjoy a crisis point.
Most of his allies are the same age and Putin has made it clear that he will start a dynasty.
Mendoza said that if Putin were to die suddenly, it could even trigger a civil war.
He said: “[The system] relies heavily on Putin’s private strength and there is an obvious possibility of collapse.
“If he dies and it’s not clear, it may simply be a war between other factions that might need to take power. “
DESPITE the fact that Putin considers himself a “man of action”, doubts have long been raised about his health.
The leader’s facial features have changed over time, according to reports, and could trigger imaginable symptoms of a serious illness affecting Putin.
Parkinson rumours have been thrown towards the Russian president as well as pancreatic cancer after bombshell documents were shown to The Sun.
There is a persistent rumor that dozens of Putin impersonators, who have gone through years of painful plastic surgeries, are ruthlessly trained through the FSB and kept under “constant surveillance. “
Based on the day-to-day shifting nature of Vlad’s face and strange changes in his behaviour, commentators have alleged these stand-ins frequently attend public appearances, walkabouts and meetings.
In addition to all this, for years there have been telltale symptoms that threaten him.
He is noted to shake during his public remarks, remains unsteady and rarely out of breath.
Mad Vlad noticed him holding a thick blanket while watching a 2022 parade and even noticed swaying and mumbling while talking with a glass of champagne in hand.
But his alleged fitness disorders hit a new low after it emerged that he had dirty himself in a fall at his home.
Putin was photographed with alleged IV lines on the back of his hand, amid rumors that he may also suffer from other types of cancer, including abdominal cancer.
The elderly president is also monitored through a huge team of doctors who would accompany him in all his care in the event of a medical emergency.
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