Russian President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for person of the year by Time Magazine. This with the justification that “his influence was strengthened in the end”.
“Putin’s power was briefly threatened in 2023 when Wagner revolted, but his influence was ultimately strengthened after the mercenary group retreated,” the magazine writes in its justification.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has held power in the role of President and Prime Minister of Russia since 1999, continues to wage war in Ukraine and is now in his second year of full-scale invasion. Putin’s power was briefly threatened in 2023 when Wagner revolted, but his influence was ultimately strengthened after the mercenary group retreated after striking a deal with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko,” the magazine writes in its justification.
Since 1927, Time Magazine has named the year’s person, group or concept that created the most headlines, for better or for worse.
Putin was named Person of the Year in 2007, and has been on Time’s list several times before.
Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was named Person of the Year for his work to get the outside world to support Ukraine in the war against Russia.
Among those nominated this year are the Hollywood Strikers, Barbie, King Charles III, the Trump prosecutors, Sam Altman, CEO of Open-AI, China’s leader Xi Jinping, and artist Taylor Swift.