President Zhirinovsky

In OTL, the 2000 Russian presidential elections were known for Vladimir Putin being elected. He won the election with 53% of the vote.

But what if he didn't win?

This timeline examines the idea of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a Russian nationalist leader, rising to power in that election instead of Putin, due to Putin deciding not to run for president and remaining as the director of the Federal Security Service.

Points of divergence
There are several:


 * Vladimir Putin remains as the head of the Federal Security Service and does not run for president.
 * Vladimir Zhirinovsky, of the nationalist LDPR, wins the election with 56% of the vote.