1999: Putin takes over as Yeltsin resigns Boris Yeltsin has resigned as Russian president, taking the country and the rest of the world completely by surprise.  Mr Yeltsin made the shock announcement live on Russian television and said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will take over as acting president, with elections now due to take place on 26 March 2000.  “I am going.  I am going earlier than my established time,” he said.  The 68-year-old had repeatedly said he would serve out his second and final term in office, which was meant to continue until June 2000.  Mr Yeltsin asked for forgiveness for what he called the errors of his administration, and said Russia needed to enter the new century with new political leaders.