Moscow:
Russian strongman Vladimir Putin believes that he risked his political career due to crucial decisions taken by him in the course of eight years of presidency and the premiership, including those relating to Chechen militants.
In what is seen here as the start of his campaign for the top Kremlin job, Putin today said his decision to rebuff the attack of Islamist militants from Chechnya (when he was appointed Prime Minister by former President Boris Yeltsin in 1999) could have cost him further political career.
Then de facto independent Chechnya's territory militants of notorious warlord Shamil Basayev and Saudi-born Ibn Al-Khattab attacked neighbouring Dagestan in August-September 1999. Hundreds of people were killed in the subsequent fighting, a precursor to the second Chechen war.
Talking to workers in a televised meeting at the country's giant Magnitogorsk Steel Plant, Putin said, "Although the risk was high, the people of the country were fatigued by the war in Chechnya and nobody wanted to listen of a new military action, but it was justified." "I had to make a decision. I thought: That's it, my career is over," Putin said and added, "Had I not taken that resolute and tough action, the country would have fallen apart."
In reference to his military campaign, which restored the federal rule over the breakaway Chechnya, Putin said he acted in accordance with the country's national interests, with no consideration of political expediency.
Putin, who is likely to seek a fresh term in the Kremlin at March 2012 polls also told the young steel workers that "integrity" was the main criterion for the head of state.
"Integrity - integrity in everything, a person who can't keep his word must not even be allowed to head any team, let alone the country," he underscored.
In what is seen here as the start of his campaign for the top Kremlin job, Putin today said his decision to rebuff the attack of Islamist militants from Chechnya (when he was appointed Prime Minister by former President Boris Yeltsin in 1999) could have cost him further political career.
Then de facto independent Chechnya's territory militants of notorious warlord Shamil Basayev and Saudi-born Ibn Al-Khattab attacked neighbouring Dagestan in August-September 1999. Hundreds of people were killed in the subsequent fighting, a precursor to the second Chechen war.
Talking to workers in a televised meeting at the country's giant Magnitogorsk Steel Plant, Putin said, "Although the risk was high, the people of the country were fatigued by the war in Chechnya and nobody wanted to listen of a new military action, but it was justified." "I had to make a decision. I thought: That's it, my career is over," Putin said and added, "Had I not taken that resolute and tough action, the country would have fallen apart."
In reference to his military campaign, which restored the federal rule over the breakaway Chechnya, Putin said he acted in accordance with the country's national interests, with no consideration of political expediency.
Putin, who is likely to seek a fresh term in the Kremlin at March 2012 polls also told the young steel workers that "integrity" was the main criterion for the head of state.
"Integrity - integrity in everything, a person who can't keep his word must not even be allowed to head any team, let alone the country," he underscored.
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