text: World | © 2017 The Washington Post | Adam Taylor, The Washington Post | Updated: September 14, 2017 23:15 IST
  This may not be the sort of record the Kremlin is keen to publicize
  However, most analysts agree that Putin still held the real power during that "tandem" presidency. He returned to the presidency in 2012.
  Putin's increasingly lengthy time in office may not appear to be a problem to many Russians - as widely noted, his approval ratings remain extraordinarily high. He is widely expected to stand to be nominated as a presidential candidate again for next year's elections, according to reports in the Russian media.
  Still, Putin is likely to win next year's election if he runs - potentially putting him in office until 2024 (after Medvedev left office, presidential terms were increased from four to six years). He could choose to keep going after that, too - both Brezhnev and Stalin died in office, and at 64, Putin is thought to be in good health. At this point, it's hard to imagine who could succeed him or how.