Medvedev: a loyal servant who has always marched in lockstep with his boss

MOSCOW – Dmitry Medvedev’s career so far depicts a dedicated aide who has always marched in lockstep with Vladimir Putin.

Consequently, Russia’s election campaign – drained of suspense due to the obvious outcome – was laced with suspicion that Medvedev, who wants to name the outgoing president as his prime minister, will still take orders from Putin despite outranking him. Putin (55) and Medvedev (42) first worked together for a former law professor who became head of the city council in Leningrad – now St Petersburg – in 1990.Putin brought Medvedev to Moscow in 1999, shortly before Boris Yeltsin stepped down and handed him the presidency.Medvedev joined Putin’s staff and ran his first election campaign in 2000.Promoted to chief of staff in 2003, Medvedev – who presents himself as a champion of free markets – toed the line during the trial of oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, which sent shock waves through the business community and heralded a new era of state intervention in the economy.Medvedev also helped Putin end the popular election of governors and pass other laws strengthening the Kremlin’s control over politics in the name of security after the deadly Beslan school seizure in 2004.As chairman of the natural gas giant OAO Gazprom, Medvedev helped Putin restore Kremlin control over the massive monopoly, which many in the West have accused Moscow of using as a tool in its quest for geopolitical clout.Gazprom has also helped Putin choke off independent voices by acquiring control of top media outlets.In 2005, Putin named Medvedev first deputy prime minister.Medvedev is one of several former St.Petersburg colleagues to whom Putin has given top posts.But while many have backgrounds in intelligence, Medvedev’s roots are closer to the intelligentsia.The only child of a professor and a teacher, his success as a student was intermittent – in part, he has said, because he was spending time courting his future wife, Svetlana, whom he met in seventh grade.The two have a teenage son.Medvedev has said little about his childhood, but during a televised Kremlin dinner in January, he spoke of having enjoyed reading Jules Verne.He later adored British rock group Deep Purple, popular at the time in the Soviet Union.In a fantasy-come-true that marked his unlikely rise from a modest Soviet youth to the perk-filled heights of power, Medvedev hung out with the band when they played at a private concert last month marking the 15th anniversary of Gazprom.While Putin’s KGB roots have informed his image as a steely leader whose bottom-line concern is Russia’s security and strength, Medvedev’s more purely legal background has found an outlet in his emphasis on the need for the rule of law and independent courts.His middle-manager looks also contribute to a less imposing presence than Putin’s.In lavish television coverage over two years of being groomed as a potential successor, Medvedev struggled to sound firm.But amid sometimes comical efforts to ape Putin’s authoritative manner, he has shown signs of settling for an image milder than his mentor’s.Nampa-APPutin (55) and Medvedev (42) first worked together for a former law professor who became head of the city council in Leningrad – now St Petersburg – in 1990.Putin brought Medvedev to Moscow in 1999, shortly before Boris Yeltsin stepped down and handed him the presidency.Medvedev joined Putin’s staff and ran his first election campaign in 2000.Promoted to chief of staff in 2003, Medvedev – who presents himself as a champion of free markets – toed the line during the trial of oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, which sent shock waves through the business community and heralded a new era of state intervention in the economy.Medvedev also helped Putin end the popular election of governors and pass other laws strengthening the Kremlin’s control over politics in the name of security after the deadly Beslan school seizure in 2004.As chairman of the natural gas giant OAO Gazprom, Medvedev helped Putin restore Kremlin control over the massive monopoly, which many in the West have accused Moscow of using as a tool in its quest for geopolitical clout.Gazprom has also helped Putin choke off independent voices by acquiring control of top media outlets.In 2005, Putin named Medvedev first deputy prime minister.Medvedev is one of several former St.Petersburg colleagues to whom Putin has given top posts.But while many have backgrounds in intelligence, Medvedev’s roots are closer to the intelligentsia.The only child of a professor and a teacher, his success as a student was intermittent – in part, he has said, because he was spending time courting his future wife, Svetlana, whom he met in seventh grade.The two have a teenage son.Medvedev has said little about his childhood, but during a televised Kremlin dinner in January, he spoke of having enjoyed reading Jules Verne.He later adored British rock group Deep Purple, popular at the time in the Soviet Union.In a fantasy-come-true that marked his unlikely rise from a modest Soviet youth to the perk-filled heights of power, Medvedev hung out with the band when they played at a private concert last month marking the 15th anniversary of Gazprom.While Putin’s KGB roots have informed his image as a steely leader whose bottom-line concern is Russia’s security and strength, Medvedev’s more purely legal background has found an outlet in his emphasis on the need for the rule of law and independent courts.His middle-manager looks also contribute to a less imposing presence than Putin’s.In lavish television coverage over two years of being groomed as a potential successor, Medvedev struggled to sound firm.But amid sometimes comical efforts to ape Putin’s authoritative manner, he has shown signs of settling for an image milder than his mentor’s.Nampa-AP