14 Things You Should Know About Russian President Vladimir Putin

9) His Ties With The KGB (9 of 14)

9) His Ties With The KGB (9 of 14)

After a brief foray at law school, Vladimir Putin joined the KGB (which had been the main security agency for the Soviet Union, until it collapsed in 1991). He quickly rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and in that period he was also posted to East Germany in order to help recruit spies for the Russian government.