As Vladimir Putin celebrates 25 years of rule over Russia, his first speech as president is resurfacing, showing a multitude of damage and the emergence of a very different leader.
A quarter of a century ago on New Year’s Eve, Putin was entrusted with the Kremlin for the first time.
Footage from his address on December 31, 1999, shows him committing himself to “freedom” and “democracy” for Russia.
Today, 25 years later, its main political enemies have been murdered or imprisoned, repression is rife, elections are rigged and Europe is mired in the worst confrontation since World War II, with thousands of deaths.
The despot also achieved an attempted coup d’état and large-scale protests.
It was on the eve of the new millennium that Putin came to power when the then-Russian president Boris Yeltsin suddenly quit.
Yeltsin had saved Russia from communist oppression and given it a chance to have 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 hold on to strength for six months when the country has a strong leader who can be its president, a guy in whom almost all Russians pin their hopes for the future?” Yeltsin said after his resignation.
“Why stand in his 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 promised: “Freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of the media, the right to property: those basic elements of a civilized society will reliably pass through the state. ” “.
But that won’t be the case.
Historical photographs show him – seconds earlier, at the dawn of the new millennium in Moscow – making promises he has betrayed over the years, enriching himself and his acolytes with 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 expected to continue.
Putin’s first act as president to grant his predecessor Yeltsin immunity from corruption charges.
Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, told The Sun that Putin had started out his reign seemingly normal, but the megalomania had always been there.
He said, “You don’t know anyone until they’re in that position of power. “
In his first speech on New Year’s Eve 25 years ago, Putin promised there would be no “power vacuum” in Russia.
He said: “Dear friends! Tonight, on New Year’s Eve, like you, I will pay attention to the greeting words of Russian President Boris Yeltsin to my circle of family and friends. But it turned out differently.
“Today, December 31, 1999, the first president of Russia has to resign. He asked me to take care of the country.
“Dear Russians! Dear compatriots! Today you have entrusted me 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 expression, freedom of conscience, freedom of the media, the right to property: these basic elements of a civilized society will be trusted through 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 respect of the country’s Constitution. Only after some time will it be possible to truly evaluate everything this man has done for Russia.
“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 assert itself as a strong and independent state, this is its wonderful merit.
“I would like Boris Yeltsin, Russia’s first president, to be fit and happy.
“New Year is the brightest, kindest, and most beloved holiday in Russia.
“As you know, dreams come true on New Year’s Day. And on such an extraordinary New Year – even more so. All the good and all the good things you have planned will definitely come true.
“Dear friends! We are seconds away from the year 2000. They smile at our circle of family and friends.
“We wish others 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 to you! Happy new century!”
Today, Putin’s strength appears to be more potent than ever, both inside and outside the country.
Russian forces continued their war in Ukraine, while all Russian adversaries were removed from the scene and Putin’s re-election secured his position 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 convinced that everything will be fine, we will get ahead.
“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 also announced that 2025 will be recognized as the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland in Russia.
Just a few days ago he told the BBC that Russia was on its knees when he came to power and that his leadership had “brought it back from the brink. “
“We were heading towards a complete total loss of sovereignty,” he said.
But some of Putin’s tight grip on force is built on a foundation of sand and may fall softly and temporarily into his hands.
Last year, Putin was almost removed in a coup attempt by Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner group.
Dr. Mendoza said: “I think what Prigozhin’s departure told us is that the regime is only one step away from disaster, one step away from fall, and although Putin would possibly have superficial control over intelligence in the world business, if there is a genuine threat, arises in its power, it is not really known if it will.
The Russian expert said Putin is now less confident than he was five years ago, having failed to achieve the decisive victory he promised 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, despite all the propaganda and all the narratives, the Russians will know something is wrong when Ukrainian drones attack Moscow. “
The ageing leader will also carry fears about who will succeed him as his health and age continue to spark concern.
The despot cuts a starkly different figure than he did 25 years ago.
In 1999, Putin was slim and youthful despite pushing 50, whereas he now regularly sparks health concerns with a puffy face, bizarre tremors, and twitching legs.
Such concerns have seen the Kremlin rush out unprecedented comments and statements to fight the image of an ageing and decrepit leader.
The Kremlin’s considerations of the president’s “strongman” symbol come after he made dramatic adjustments to his appearance.
He was seen hunting exhausted, out of breath, having difficulty walking and grimacing.
There were also times when Putin suffered in some way when he held on tightly to tables at meetings, sparking rumors about Parkinson’s disease.
Around the same time, in 2022, experts began noticing her “swollen” and “weakened” appearance, with some claiming that she might have had thyroid cancer.
First, it was noted that Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine on February 24 was possibly due to his weakened physical condition.
But the Kremlin continues to deny that the dictator has any problems.
Since Putin’s succession is uncertain, Russia could succeed at a crisis point.
Most of his allies are the same age and Putin has made it clear that he will discover 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 Putin considering himself a “man of action,” questions 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.
After explosive documents were submitted to The Sun newspaper, rumors arose about the Russian president’s Parkinson’s disease and pancreatic cancer.
A persistent rumor is that dozens of Putin impersonators – who have undergone years of painful plastic surgeries – are being ruthlessly trained through the FSB and kept under “constant surveillance. ”
Based on the transformative nature of Vlad’s face and the strange changes in his behavior, commentators have alleged that these replacements attend public appearances, public baths, and meetings.
Alongside all of this, some other tell-tale signs have loomed over him for years.
He is regularly seen twitching on his public sightings and is unsteady on his feet, and out of breath on occasion.
Mad Vlad has been seen clutching a thick blanket while watching a parade in 2022 and was even seen swaying and slurring as he spoke with a glass of champagne in his hand.
But his alleged physical ailments hit a new low after it emerged he had soiled himself in a fall at home.
Putin has been pictured with suspected track marks from IV treatment on the back of his hand – amid rumours he may have been suffering from other forms of cancer as well, including stomach cancer.
The elderly president is also followed by a huge team of doctors who would accompany him in all his care in the event of a medical emergency.
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