Medvedev to hand baton back to Putin / An apparatchik president? Why Russia expects Putin to stay on at Medvedev’s side

Russian President Vladimir Putin nominated Dmitry Medvedev (currently a first deputy Prime Minister and chairman of gas giant Gazprom) to be his hand-picked successor as Russian President on the 10 December 2007. On the 11 December Mr Medvedev made it clear that his patron would remain a dominant political force in the country by nominating him as its next Prime Minister.

Deutsche Welle, 11.12.07: Russian Presidential Candidate Offers Putin Premiership http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2999413,00.html

BBC News, 11.12.07: Medvedev says Putin should be PM http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7137993.stm

BBC News, 17.12.07: Putin ready to be PM after polls http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7147774.stm

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