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57-472: Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev (born 14 September 1965) is a Russian politician who has been serving as deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia since 2020. Medvedev was also the president of Russia from 2008 to 2012 and prime minister of Russia from 2012 to 2020. Medvedev was elected president in the 2008 election . He was seen as more liberal than his predecessor Vladimir Putin , who

114-520: A "dreadful why-asker". After school, he would spend some time playing with his friends before hurrying home to work on his assignments. In the third grade, Medvedev studied the ten-volume Small Soviet Encyclopedia belonging to his father. In the second and third grades, he showed interest in dinosaurs and memorised Earth's primary geologic development periods , from the Archean up to the Cenozoic. In

171-446: A "tough period when I had to mobilize my abilities to the utmost for the first time in my life." In the autumn of 1982, 17-year-old Medvedev enrolled at Leningrad State University to study law. Although he also considered studying linguistics , Medvedev later said he never regretted his choice, finding his chosen subject increasingly fascinating, stating that he was lucky "to have chosen a field that genuinely interested him and that it

228-728: A 5-point strategy of the Russian foreign policy, which has become known as the Medvedev Doctrine . On 30 September 2009, the European Union –sponsored Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia stated that, while preceded by months of mutual provocations, "open hostilities began with a large-scale Georgian military operation against the town of Tskhinvali and the surrounding areas, launched in

285-568: A St. Petersburg-based timber company. Medvedev aided the company in developing a strategy as the firm launched a significant expansion. Medvedev received 20% of the company's stock. In the next seven years Ilim Pulp Enterprise became Russia's largest lumber company with an annual revenue of around $ 500 million. Medvedev sold his shares in ILP in 1999. He then took his first job at the central government of Russia. The profits realised by Medvedev are unknown. In June 1996, Medvedev's colleague Vladimir Putin

342-558: A keynote speech at the Fifth Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum, saying that: Freedom is better than non-freedom – this principle should be at the core of our politics. I mean freedom in all its manifestations – personal freedom, economic freedom and, finally, freedom of expression. In the Krasnoyarsk speech, Medvedev harshly condemned Russia's " legal nihilism " and highlighted the need to ensure

399-544: A list of candidates not containing Putin himself, Medvedev often came out first, beating Ivanov and Zubkov as well as the opposition candidates. In November 2006, Medvedev's trust rating was 17%, more than double than that of Ivanov. Medvedev's popularity was probably boosted by his high-profile role in the National Priority Projects . Many observers were surprised on 10 December 2007 when President Putin introduced Medvedev as his preferred successor. This

456-694: A major democratic politician of the 1980s and 1990s was one of Medvedev's professors at the university. In 1988, Medvedev joined Sobchak's team of democrats and served as the de facto head of Sobchak's successful campaign for a seat in the new Soviet parliament, the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR. After Sobchak's election campaign Medvedev continued his academic career in the position of docent ( associate professor ) at his alma mater, now renamed Saint Petersburg State University . He taught civil and Roman law until 1999. According to one student, Medvedev

513-483: A separatist stronghold, in hours. At the time of the attack, Medvedev was on vacation and Putin was attending the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics . At about 1:00 a.m on 8 August, Medvedev held a telephone conversation with the Defence Minister, Anatoliy Serdyukov . It is likely that during this conversation, Medvedev authorised the use of force against Georgia. The next day, Medvedev released

570-603: A statement, in which he said: Last night, Georgian troops committed what amounts to an act of aggression against Russian peacekeepers and the civilian population in South Ossetia ... In accordance with the Constitution and the federal laws, as President of the Russian Federation it is my duty to protect the lives and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they may be. It is these circumstances that dictate

627-440: A turnout of 69.78% of registered voters. The main contenders, Gennady Zyuganov and Vladimir Zhirinovsky , received 17.72% and 9.35% respectively. Three-quarters of Medvedev's vote was Putin's electorate. According to surveys, had Putin and Medvedev both run for president in the same elections, Medvedev would have received 9% of the vote. The fairness of the election was disputed by international observers. Andreas Gross, head of

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684-488: Is this personal chemistry: I trust him. I just trust him. As 2 March 2008 election approached, the outgoing president, Vladimir Putin, remained the country's most popular politician. An opinion poll by Russia's independent polling organisation, the Levada Center, conducted over the period 21–24 December 2007, indicated that when presented a list of potential candidates, 79% of Russians were ready to vote for Medvedev if

741-640: The Central Election Commission on 20 December 2007 and said he would step down as chairman of Gazprom, since under the current laws, the president is not permitted to hold another post. His registration was formally accepted as valid by the Russian Central Election Commission on 21 January 2008. Describing his reasons for endorsing Medvedev, Putin said: I am confident that he will be a good president and an effective manager. But besides other things, there

798-499: The Leningrad City Council . Sobchak hired Medvedev who had previously headed his election campaign. One of Sobchak's former students, Vladimir Putin , became an adviser. The next summer, Sobchak was elected Mayor of the city, and Medvedev became a consultant to City Hall's Committee for Foreign Affairs. It was headed by Putin. In November 1993, Medvedev became the legal affairs director of Ilim Pulp Enterprise (ILP),

855-611: The Leningrad State University Faculty of Law in 1987 (together with Ilya Yeliseyev, Artur Parfenchikov , Anton Ivanov , Nikolay Vinnichenko and Konstantin Chuychenko , who later became associates). After graduating, Medvedev considered joining the prosecutor's office to become an investigator however, he took an opportunity to pursue graduate studies at the civil law department, deciding to accept three budget-funded post-graduate students to work at

912-443: The National Priority Projects would be raised by 260 billion rubles for 2008. Medvedev's election campaign was relatively low-key and, like his predecessor, Medvedev refused to take part in televised debates, citing his high workload as first deputy prime minister as the reason. Instead, Medvedev preferred to present his views on his election website Medvedev2008.ru . In January 2008, Medvedev launched his campaign with stops in

969-540: The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) mission, stated that the elections were "neither free nor fair". Moreover, the few western vote monitors bemoaned the inequality of candidate registration and the abuse of administrative resources by Medvedev allowing blanket television coverage. Russian programmer Shpilkin analysed the results of Medvedev's election and came to the conclusion that

1026-537: The oblasts . On 22 January 2008, Medvedev held what was effectively his first campaign speech at Russia's second Civic Forum, advocating a liberal-conservative agenda for modernising Russia. Medvedev argued that Russia needed "decades of stable development" because the country had "exhausted its share of revolutions and social upheavals back in the twentieth century". Medvedev therefore emphasised liberal modernisation while still aiming to continue his predecessor's agenda of stabilisation. On 15 February 2008, Medvedev held

1083-551: The Kupchino Municipal Okrug (district) of Leningrad. Dmitry was his parents' only child. The Medvedevs were regarded at the time as a Soviet intelligentsia family. His maternal grandparents were Ukrainians whose surname was Kovalev, originally Koval . Medvedev traces his family roots to the Belgorod region. As a child, Medvedev was intellectually curious, described by his first-grade teacher Vera Smirnova as

1140-696: The SCRF as well as a host of other statutes pertaining to the structure and composition of the SCRF. It has been argued that the coordinating role defined for the Security Council in the National Security Strategy to 2020, published in May 2009, represents a strengthening of the council's influence and importance within Russian governance under its new Secretary Nikolai Patrushev . On 16 January 2020, president Vladimir Putin signed

1197-523: The Secretary of the SCRF, its full members, and members, as appointed by the president. Under the law, the Secretary of the SCRF is appointed by the president and reports directly to him. Decisions of the SCRF are adopted by its full members and approved by the president, who may issue decrees or orders for the purpose of implementing them. The Presidential Decree of 6 May 2011 enacted the Statute of

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1254-409: The background. In the first year of Medvedev's presidency, two external events threatening Russia—the 2007–2008 financial crisis and the 2008 South Ossetia war —changed Putin's plans and caused him to resume a stronger role in Russian politics. The long-lingering conflict between Georgia and the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia , which were supported by Russia, escalated during

1311-403: The balance of different factions in the presidential administration and in the government. However, the influence of the powerful security/military-related siloviki weakened after Medvedev's inauguration for the first time in 20 years. In their place, Medvedev brought in the so-called civiliki , a network of St. Petersburg civil law scholars preferred by Medvedev for high positions. From

1368-452: The beginning of Medvedev's tenure, the nature of his presidency and his relationship with Putin was subject to considerable media speculation. In a unique situation in the Russian Federation's political history, the constitutionally powerful president was now flanked with a highly influential prime minister (Putin), who also remained the country's most popular politician. Previous prime ministers had proven to be almost completely subordinate to

1425-561: The department itself. During his post-graduate studies, Medvedev met Konstantin Aranovsky , whom, in 2010, he nominated as a judge in the Constitutional Court of Russia . In 1990, Medvedev defended his dissertation titled, "Problems of Realisation of Civil Juridical Personality of State Enterprise" and received his Doctor of Juridical Science ( Candidate of Juridical Sciences ) degree in civil law . Anatoly Sobchak ,

1482-582: The election was immediately held. The other main contenders, the Communist Gennady Zyuganov and the LDPR 's Vladimir Zhirinovsky both received in 9% in the same poll. Much of Putin's popularity transferred to his chosen candidate, with 42% of the survey responders saying that Medvedev's strength came from Putin's support to him. In his first speech after being endorsed, Medvedev stated that, as president, he would appoint Vladimir Putin to

1539-425: The federal budget, was not enough to significantly overhaul Russia's infrastructure. According to opinion polls, most Russians believed the money invested in the projects had been spent ineffectively. Following his appointment as first deputy prime minister, many political observers began to regard Medvedev as a potential candidate for the 2008 presidential elections, although Western observers widely believed Medvedev

1596-416: The fourth and fifth grades he demonstrated interest in chemistry, conducting elementary experiments. He was involved to some degree with sport. In grade seven, his adolescent curiosity blossomed through his relationship with Svetlana Linnik , his future wife, who was studying at the same school in a parallel class. This apparently affected Medvedev's school performance. He calls the school's final exams in 1982

1653-564: The head of the administration. The head of the Federal Security Service , Nikolai Patrushev , was replaced with Alexander Bortnikov . Medvedev's economic adviser Arkady Dvorkovich and his press attaché Natalya Timakova became part of the president's core team. Medvedev's old classmate from his student years, Konstantin Chuichenko , became his personal assistant. Medvedev was reported to have taken care not to upset

1710-455: The independence of the country's judicial system and the need for an anti-corruption program. Economically, Medvedev advocated private property, economic deregulation and lower taxes. According to him, Russia's economy should be modernised by focusing on four "I"s: institutions, infrastructure, innovation and investment. Medvedev was elected President of Russia on 2 March 2008. The final election results gave him 70.28% (52,530,712) of votes with

1767-741: The night of 7 to 8 August 2008". Security Council of Russia The Security Council of the RSFSR was legally set up by Congress of People's Deputies of Russia in April 1991 along with the office of the President of the RSFSR (the RSFSR at that time operated as one of the constituent republics of the USSR ). The 1993 Constitution of Russia refers to the SCRF in Article 83, which stipulates (as one of

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1824-466: The post of prime minister to head the Russian government . Although constitutionally barred from a third consecutive presidential term, such a role would allow Putin to continue as an influential figure in Russian politics. Putin pledged that he would accept the position of prime minister should Medvedev be elected president. Although Putin had pledged not to change the distribution of authority between

1881-676: The presidency, he stated: I believe my most important aims will be to protect civil and economic freedoms... We must fight for a true respect of the law and overcome legal nihilism, which seriously hampers modern development. His inauguration coincided with the celebration of the Victory Day on 9 May. He attended the military parade at Red Square and signed a decree to provide housing to war veterans. On 8 May 2008, Dmitry Medvedev appointed Putin Prime Minister of Russia as he had promised during his election campaign. The nomination

1938-560: The president and none of them had enjoyed strong public approval, with Yevgeny Primakov and Putin's previous tenure (1999–2000) as prime minister under Boris Yeltsin being the only exceptions. Journalists quickly dubbed the new system with a practically dual-headed executive as "government by tandem" or "tandemocracy", with Medvedev and Putin called the "ruling tandem". Daniel Treisman has argued that early in Medvedev's presidency, Putin seemed ready to disengage and started withdrawing to

1995-451: The president and prime minister, many analysts expected a shift in the center of power from the presidency to the prime minister post when Putin assumed the latter under a Medvedev presidency. Election posters portrayed the pair side by side with the slogan "Together We Win" (" Вместе победим "). Medvedev vowed to work closely with Putin once elected. In December 2007, in preparation for his election campaign, Medvedev promised that funding of

2052-447: The president's prerogatives) that the SCRF is formed and headed by the president of Russia, also saying that the status of the SCRF is to be defined by a federal law . The 2010 Law on Security defines the legal status of the SCRF as a "constitutional consultative body" concerned with elaboration of decisions by the president in the fields of Russia's defence and national security. The SCRF comprises its chairman (the president of Russia),

2109-424: The presidential administration of the government when Putin appointed him as first deputy prime minister of Russia. In particular, Medvedev was made responsible for the implementation of the National Priority Projects focusing on improving public health , education , housing and agriculture . The program saw an increase of wages in healthcare and education and construction of new apartments but its funding, 4% of

2166-517: The results were falsified by the election committees. However, after the correction for the alleged falsification factor, Medvedev still came out as the winner although with 63% of the vote instead of 70%. On 7 May 2008, Dmitry Medvedev took an oath as the third president of the Russian Federation in a ceremony held in the Grand Kremlin Palace . After taking the oath of office and receiving a gold chain of double-headed eagles symbolising

2223-471: The same day to the new office of deputy chairman of the Security Council. To some analysts, Medvedev's presidency seemed to promise positive changes both at home and in ties with the West, signaling "the possibility of a new, more liberal period in Russian politics". Since the lead up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine , he has adopted increasingly hawkish and anti-Western positions, and has repeatedly threatened

2280-513: The same day, a peace deal brokered by the French and EU president, Nicolas Sarkozy , was signed between the warring parties. On 26 August, after being unanimously passed by the State Duma , Medvedev signed a decree recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. The five-day conflict cost the lives of 48 Russian soldiers, including 10 peacekeepers, while the casualties for Georgia

2337-540: The second time in June 2002, a position which he held until his ascension to presidency in 2008. During Medvedev's tenure, Gazprom's debts were restructured and the company's market capitalisation grew from $ 7.8 billion in 2000 to $ 300 billion in early 2008. Medvedev headed Russia's negotiations with Ukraine and Belarus during gas price disputes. In October 2003, Medvedev replaced Alexander Voloshin as presidential chief of staff . In November 2005, Medvedev moved from

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2394-487: The steps we will take now. We will not allow the deaths of our fellow citizens to go unpunished. The perpetrators will receive the punishment they deserve. In the early hours of 8 August, Russian military forces launched a counter-offensive against Georgian troops. After five days of heavy fighting, all Georgian forces were routed from South Ossetia and Abkhazia. On 12 August, Medvedev ended the Russian military operation, entitled "Operation to force Georgia into peace". Later on

2451-706: The summer of 2008. On 1 August 2008, the Russian-backed South Ossetian forces started shelling Georgian villages, with a sporadic response from Georgian peacekeepers in the area. Intensifying artillery attacks by the South Ossetians broke a 1992 ceasefire agreement. To put an end to these attacks, the Georgian army units were sent in to the South Ossetian conflict zone on 7 August. Georgian troops took control of most of Tskhinvali,

2508-641: The use of nuclear weapons in a break with his previous image as a moderate subordinate to Putin. According to analysts, he has limited influence in the Kremlin. Former Prime Minister of Russia Former President of Russia Political views Elections Presidency Premiership [REDACTED] Dmitry Medvedev was born on 14 September 1965 in Leningrad , in the Soviet Union. His father, Anatoly Afanasyevich Medvedev (November 1926 – 2004),

2565-451: The work and the responsibility calling it "a test of strength". As president, Putin launched a campaign against corrupt oligarchs and economic mismanagement. He appointed Medvedev chairman of gas company Gazprom 's board of directors in 2000 with Alexei Miller . Medvedev put an end to the large-scale tax evasion and asset stripping by the previous corrupt management. Medvedev then served as deputy chair from 2001 to 2002, becoming chair for

2622-403: Was 170 soldiers and 14 policemen. The Russian popular opinion of the military intervention was broadly positive, not just among the supporters of the government, but across the political spectrum. Medvedev's popularity ratings soared by around 10 percentage points to over 70%, due to what was seen as his effective handling of the war. Shortly in the aftermath of the conflict, Medvedev formulated

2679-482: Was a chemical engineer teaching at the Leningrad State Institute of Technology . Dmitry's mother, Yulia Veniaminovna Medvedeva (née Shaposhnikova, born 21 November 1939), studied languages at Voronezh University and taught Russian at Herzen State Pedagogical University . Later, she would also work as a tour guide at Pavlovsk Palace . The Medvedevs lived in a 40m apartment at 6 Bela Kun Street in

2736-403: Was a popular teacher: "strict but not harsh". During his tenure Medvedev co-wrote a popular three-volume civil law textbook which over the years has sold a million copies. Medvedev also worked at a small law consultancy firm which he had founded with his friends Anton Ivanov and Ilya Yeliseyev, to supplement his academic salary. In 1990, Anatoly Sobchak returned from Moscow to become chairman of

2793-474: Was approved by the State Duma with a clear majority of 392–56, with only Communist Party of the Russian Federation deputies voting against. On 12 May 2008, Putin proposed the list of names for his new cabinet which Medvedev approved. Most of the personnel remained unchanged from the period of Putin's initial presidency but there were several high-profile changes. The Minister of Justice , Vladimir Ustinov

2850-578: Was brought into the Russian presidential administration . Three years later, on 16 August 1999, he became Prime Minister of Russia . Three months later, in November 1999, Medvedev became one of several from St. Petersburg brought in by Vladimir Putin to top government positions in Moscow. On 31 December, he was appointed deputy head of the presidential staff , becoming one of the politicians closest to future President Putin. On 17 January 2000, Dmitry Medvedev

2907-416: Was later being accused of corruption himself. He served a single term in office and was succeeded by Putin following the 2012 presidential election . Putin then appointed Medvedev as prime minister. He resigned along with the rest of the government on 15 January 2020 to allow Putin to make sweeping constitutional changes and was succeeded by Mikhail Mishustin on 16 January 2020. Putin appointed Medvedev

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2964-781: Was prime minister in Medvedev's presidency . Medvedev's agenda as president was a wide-ranging modernisation programme , aimed at modernising Russia's economy and society, and lessening the country's reliance on oil and gas. During Medvedev's tenure, the United States and Russia signed the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty. Russia won the Russo-Georgian War , and recovered from the Great Recession . Medvedev also launched an anti-corruption campaign , yet

3021-461: Was promoted to 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation (the highest federal state civilian service rank ) by the Decree signed by Vladimir Putin as acting President of Russia . During the 2000 presidential elections , he was Putin's campaign manager . Putin won the election with 52.94% of the popular vote. Medvedev was quoted after the election commenting he thoroughly enjoyed

3078-462: Was really 'his thing'". Fellow students described Medvedev as a correct and diplomatic person who in debates presented his arguments firmly, without offending. During his student years, Medvedev was a fan of the English rock bands Black Sabbath , Led Zeppelin , and Deep Purple . He was also fond of sports and participated in athletic competitions in rowing and weightlifting . He graduated from

3135-465: Was replaced by Aleksandr Konovalov ; the Minister of Energy, Viktor Khristenko was replaced with Sergei Shmatko ; the Minister of Communications, Leonid Reiman was replaced with Igor Shchyogolev and Vitaliy Mutko received the newly created position of Minister of Sports, Tourism and Youth policy. In the presidential administration, Medvedev replaced Sergei Sobyanin with Sergei Naryshkin as

3192-462: Was staged on TV with four parties suggesting Medvedev's candidature to Putin, and Putin then giving his endorsement. The four pro-Kremlin parties were United Russia , Fair Russia , Agrarian Party of Russia and Civilian Power . United Russia held its party congress on 17 December 2007 where by secret ballot of the delegates, Medvedev was officially endorsed as their candidate in the 2008 presidential election. He formally registered his candidacy with

3249-481: Was too liberal and too pro-Western for Putin to endorse him as a candidate. Instead, Western observers expected the candidate to arise from the ranks of the so-called siloviki , security and military officials many of whom were appointed to high positions during Putin's presidency. The silovik Sergei Ivanov and the administrator-specialist Viktor Zubkov were seen as the strongest candidates. In opinion polls asking Russians to pick their favourite successor to Putin from

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