Dmitry Medvedev

"Medvedev is the one who’s really in power"

Julien — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:29:38 +0200

The Western press reacted cynically to the inauguration of Russia's new president, Dmitry Medvedev, who has been considered a puppet of outgoing president - and now Prime Minister - Vladimir Putin since being elected in March. However, a political analyst in the country and harsh critic of the ruling party, tells us why the idea is entirely speculative.

"The West has a twisted vision of Russia"

Julien — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:42:53 +0200

Dimitri Medvedev was inaugurated as Russia's new president today. Evguenia Obitchkina, an international relations lecturer in Moscow, explains that the conflict between Russia and the West might have more to do with the hydrocarbon trade than human rights.

Vote-riggers can’t break their habit

Julien — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:13:25 +0100

Stories of ingenious election rigging in Russia are not unheard of. But in this year’s presidential election on March 2 the tales have become taller. Despite Putin’s chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev expecting an easy win, dead people still managed to rise from their graves on Sunday in order to give him an extra vote. Strange? A blogger from Moscow told us that even if their leader is sure to win, with a history of authoritarian rule, some Russians don’t know any other form of electoral success than “cheating, beating and grabbing”. A combination of grovelling campaigners and rigid habits — along with the prevailing support of the mass media — helped Medvedev sweep the polls with a landslide 70% victory. “All Russians as one man” is a Soviet idiom that has stuck fast and will die hard. And vote-riggers are even willing to set off air-raid sirens to keep it that way.

Even school children support Medvedev

Julien — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:40:05 +0100

Russian tabloid Express Gazeta organized a drawing competition all across Russia to support President Valdimir Putin's successor, Dmitry Medvedev. These drawings, published three days before the presidential election, are strangely reminiscent of personality cults from the Soviet era.

About 1000 kids participated in the contest called "draw the president." Every single drawing was about Dmitry Medvedev. These drawings have been displayed in Moscow since Feb. 26. The first contest prize : laptop. The second : a Smartphone. the third : a teddybear.

“Med erm, Medeved… Meded-deva…whatever…”

Julien — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:06:03 +0100

Questioned Tuesday about the name of Putin’s successor in a televised debate with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton faltered to pronounce the name. “Med erm, Medeved… Meded-deva… whatever…” Russian Blogger Alexander Kireev was not impressed.