Vladimir Putin applauds as Deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko receives flowers during an award giving ceremony to women of Ivanovo on Women's Day, March 2000.

Vladimir Putin talks with speaker of the State Duma Gennady Seleznyov, March 2000.

Vladimir Putin is congratulated on his victory by Boris Yeltsin during their meeting at Yeltsin's country house in Gorky-9, March 2000.

Vladimir Putin meets with Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Koshman, April 2000.

Vladimir Putin during a funeral ceremony of FSB special troops officers killed in the Vedeno region of Chechnya, April 2000.

Vladimir Putin shakes hands with General Valery Varenikov as General Vladimir Govorov looks on before a meeting, April 2000.

Vladimir Putin looks through the periscope of a Karelia submarine while inspecting the Northern Fleet, April 2000.

Vladimir Putin talks with pensioner Nina Tarasova during his visit to the agricultural Russian city of Orel, April 2000.

Vladimir Putin stands with World War II veterans during his visit to Kursk, where Soviet forces defeated a major Nazi German offensive, May 2000.

Vladimir Putin talks with Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov during a meeting at the Kremlin, May 2000.