Vladimir Putin, 2004 News

president of Russia, called for a broad overhaul of the government in September, after a series of terrorist attacks killed nearly 500 people, including 340 at a middle school in Beslan, in southern Russia. The world community expressed deep concern that Putin's plans would consolidate his power and roll back democracy in Russia. He was resoundly criticized for clearly taking sides in Ukraine's disupted presidential election in November.