from wikipedia:

"...in August 1999, Vladimir Putin was named prime minister, making him the fifth in less than two years. Putin was not expected to last long in the role and was initially unknown and unpopular due to his ties to the Yeltsin government and state security. In the late summer and early fall of 1999, a wave of apartment bombings across Russia killed hundreds and injured thousands. The bombings, blamed on the Chechens, provided the opportunity for Putin to position himself as a strong and aggressive leader, capable of dealing with the Chechen threat. "

Zyuganov would have won those elections as he was far more popular than palace/FSB astroturfed candidate and relative unknown VV Putin.

But then! a very convenient and timely streak of apartment bombings across Russia allowed Putin to boast on public television that he and the FSB would hunt down and kill those murderous Chechens anywhere they were to be found, even sitting on a toilet if that may have been the case ...

The remark of killing terrorists on toilets won him those 2000 elections, and all the power he has been accumulating since...

But we love uncle Vlad