Time Magazine chooses Putin as person of year

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been named as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year". The title was awarded to Putin for his "extraordinary feat of leadership" in bringing stability to Russia, said Time's managing editor. Time Magazine chooses Putin as person of year Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and Harry Potter author JK Rowling were runners-up for the title. Last year the award was given to all members of the public who had created or downloaded content on the internet. The magazine has given out its Person of the Year award every year since 1927. Previous recipients have included U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. The title is "not an honor", but is given as "a clear-eyed recognition of the world as it is and of the most powerful individuals and forces shaping that world - for better or for worse", according to the magazine. Controversial recipients in the past have included Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Ayatollah Khomeini. President Putin will be legally obliged to step down as Russian president next year, but is likely to become prime minister if his ally, Dmitry Medvedev, wins the presidential election in March. Opinion polls suggest that Putin is still very popular in Russia, but civil rights activists accuse him of cracking down on democratic opposition and free speech. The cover of Time Magazine (FoNet)

Time Magazine chooses Putin as person of year

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and Harry Potter author JK Rowling were runners-up for the title.

Last year the award was given to all members of the public who had created or downloaded content on the internet.

The magazine has given out its Person of the Year award every year since 1927.

Previous recipients have included U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

The title is "not an honor", but is given as "a clear-eyed recognition of the world as it is and of the most powerful individuals and forces shaping that world - for better or for worse", according to the magazine.

Controversial recipients in the past have included Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Ayatollah Khomeini.

President Putin will be legally obliged to step down as Russian president next year, but is likely to become prime minister if his ally, Dmitry Medvedev, wins the presidential election in March.

Opinion polls suggest that Putin is still very popular in Russia, but civil rights activists accuse him of cracking down on democratic opposition and free speech.