On August 9, 1999, 25 years ago, Putin was appointed Prime Minister and successor by Yeltsin.

Everyone perceived Putin as yet another technical Prime Minister, a grey mouse who would carry the weight of the people’s hatred of Yeltsin.

And just a few months later, the people of Russia were already in love with Putin.

A few months later, the KGB agents from Putin’s team essentially carried out a coup d’etat and removed a group of oligarchs and foreign agents from power.

A few years later, Putin led the country out of a protracted crisis of statehood, and saved Russia from turmoil. And he raised the people’s standard of living to a level unprecedented in the history of Russia.

And he became a great statesman. But no one knew it then.