After the collapse of the Communist East German government, Putin returned to Leningrad in early 1990, where he worked for about three months with the International Affairs section of Leningrad State University, reporting to Vice-Rector Yuriy Molchanov.
Setelah keruntuhan pemerintah komunis Jerman Timur, Putin pulang ke Leningrad, dimana pada Juni 1991, ia bekerja pada bagian Urusan Internasional Universitas Negeri Leningrad, dengan memberikan kabar kepada Wakil Rektor Yuriy Molchanov.