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Russia's Putin names his heir

A longtime protege of the president likely will succeed him.

By Washington Post
Published December 11, 2007

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that he will support a first deputy prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, as president, ending years of speculation about his choice and all but ensuring that his longtime associate and young protege will succeed him in the Kremlin next year.

"I have known him very closely for more than 17 years, and I completely and fully support this proposal," said Putin, speaking on national television to the leaders of four political parties, including the ruling United Russia party, who said they would nominate Medvedev (pronounced myehd-VYEH-dehf) as their candidate.

Medvedev, 42, a lawyer by training who is also chairman of the energy giant Gazprom, is regarded as a relative liberal among the constellation of political factions in the Kremlin. Unlike many in Putin's immediate circle, he has no background in the KGB or the security services. He is believed to be open to constructive relations with the West.

"It's a signal to the West that we want to continue communication and cooperation," said Igor Bunin, head of the Center for Political Technologies in Moscow, in an interview. "There won't be any radical changes in his presidency, but I believe Medvedev will be milder than Putin. He will largely follow the course set by Putin, but he is more oriented toward the Western model, building a democratic tradition."

Medvedev owes his political life to Putin, and the two are said to have a father-son relationship, according to Olga Kryshtanovskaya, director of the Moscow-based Center for the Study of Elites. "It's almost a monarchial succession," she said in an interview. "He nominated his 'adopted' son."

With the backing of his longtime sponsor, Medvedev, who has never been elected to any political office, will most likely coast to victory in the March 2 elections.

The choice of Medvedev, however, is unlikely to end speculation that Putin will ultimately return to the presidency. The constitution bars Putin, 55, from serving a third consecutive term.

"If Putin wants to return in two, three years ... Medvedev will be the person who will without a doubt give up the path for him," opposition politician Vladimir Ryzhkov said.

FAST FACTS

Dmitry Medvedev

Age: 42; born Sept. 14, 1965 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), to university professors.

Education: Graduated from Leningrad State University (now St. Petersburg State University) in 1987; received a law degree from the same university in 1990.

Experience: Taught law at St. Petersburg State University, 1990-1999; aide to St. Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak, 1990-1995; appointed deputy chief of staff for the Russian Cabinet, November 1999; appointed acting President Vladimir Putin's deputy chief of staff, Dec. 31, 1999; headed Putin's 2000 presidential election campaign; appointed Putin's first deputy chief of staff, June 2000; promoted to chief of staff, October 2003; appointed first deputy prime minister, November 2005; board chairman of state natural gas monopoly Gazprom, 2002-present.

Family: Married, one son.

Associated Press

[Last modified December 11, 2007, 01:44:05]