Relationship: Putin / Medvedev

[egg taco]

Story in the Financial Times says Medvedev is becoming more assertive and less deferential to Putin. Is there anything to this? If so, what does it mean?
Is there potential for some kind of power struggle between them? Which side would the military and security organs take?

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cfa5d788-d697-11dd-9bf7-000077b07658.html

Also, what do the Russians that post here think of the recently extended presidential term?

[Moche`]

Same thing happend between putin and yeltsin... yeltsin appointed him but putin eventually took all power

[zg18]

This kind of articles are written by Western media for a while and i don't see anything come true. Medvedev is the president and Putin is premier and both doing their jobs , they've been working together for 10 years now. Some wet dream how Russian leadership will "kill" themselfs for influence...for Gods sake are we talking about mafia 'cappo's' or leaders of a world power state. :roll:

[zg18]

Same thing happend between putin and yeltsin... yeltsin appointed him but putin eventually took all power

Yeltsin didn't realistically have any power, appointment of Putin for his premier is only choice where he did good for Russia, real Putin's enemies were big thiefs a.k.a known as oligarchs.

[aed1980]

Yeltsin didn't realistically have any power, appointment of Putin for his premier is only choice where he did good for Russia, real Putin's enemies were big thiefs a.k.a known as oligarchs.

Now he is the BIGGEST oligarch.

[zg18]

Now he is the BIGGEST oligarch.

Do you know what is to be an oligarch?

Putin is not oligarch by any definition.

[Difool]

Do you know what is to be an oligarch?

Putin is not oligarch by any definition.
True! And he has the wrong confession for an avarage oligarch.

[SkyUS]

I forgot that Medevev is even the president of Russia. His more of a puppet/temporary shoein until Putin get to the office in the next election.

[Difool]

Same thing happend between putin and yeltsin... yeltsin appointed him but putin eventually took all power

That's not comparable at all. Yeltsin had no control of the state although he increased the presidental power immensely. Putin has not changed the constitution to keep his chair as president. But most russians i know say that he is still in control as pm. But who knows for sure? Medvedev should do fine as a president if he doesn't mess with the military and intelligence but concenrates on economics.

[Ulytau]

Calling Medvedev as a puppet totally wrong i think most people says about him ;

''Medvedev knows about the Putin importance for Russian people''

My personal idea he did revolation in Russia especially with deportin some dudes from Russia ''as i remember most of em who sellin to weapon groups in Russia and who doing other dirty jobs after union split up funny thing some ''liberals'' and some democracy?! dudes tried to cover em and blame to Putin''

(If i am wrong please a Russian member warn me) He going to be national leader or he is as i see.

I dont think so kind of thing between em and especially Medvedev not looking like power maniac or something.

[TR1]

I forgot that Medevev is even the president of Russia. His more of a puppet/temporary shoein until Putin get to the office in the next election.
Thank you for your expert prediction.

[Red_Rage]

Do you know what is to be an oligarch?

Putin is not oligarch by any definition.


He is the "Black Horse" of oligarchs really... There is no doubt he is one of the richest men on the planet, but unlike Abramovich, he's not making extravagant purchases like huge yachts and British FCs and generally concealing his wealth quite well. Oil was very expensive for a very long time, so there is alot of unaccounted cash and unanswered questions (i.e., why agriculture is still in ruins, why manufacturing capacity was not restored, why military modernization was so slow and etc.) Don't get me wrong, i think a strongman was right for Russia at the time, however as an economist i feel that alot more could be done in terms of restoring domestic industry with oil money over past 5-6 years (and instead there are Abramoviches and Deripaskas purchasing thier 10th island with cash pumped out of Russia).

Concept of a power struggle between P and M is absolutely redicolous btw...

[SkyUS]

Thank you for your expert prediction.

No problemo.

[egg taco]

He is the "Black Horse" of oligarchs really... There is no doubt he is one of the richest men on the planet, but unlike Abramovich, he's not making extravagant purchases like huge yachts and British FCs and generally concealing his wealth quite well. Oil was very expensive for a very long time, so there is alot of unaccounted cash and unanswered questions (i.e., why agriculture is still in ruins, why manufacturing capacity was not restored, why military modernization was so slow and etc.) Don't get me wrong, i think a strongman was right for Russia at the time, however as an economist i feel that alot more could be done in terms of restoring domestic industry with oil money over past 5-6 years (and instead there are Abramoviches and Deripaskas purchasing thier 10th island with cash pumped out of Russia).

Concept of a power struggle is absolutely ridicolous btw P and M is absolutely redicolous btw...

Why exactly? It's not like that sort of thing is unheard of. I hope, for everybody's sake, nothing like that happens and would be happy to think it's out of the realm of possibility. Please explain.

[Flamming_Python]

Why exactly? It's not like that sort of thing is unheard of. I hope, for everybody's sake, nothing like that happens and would be happy to think it's out of the realm of possibility. Please explain.

Because it would be like a power stuggle between George Bush and Colin Powell.

Russia is not some 3rd world fiefdom. Putin and Medvedev form a team who together with the rest of the high-ups propogate very powerful interests and rule together. Even if 1 man has the final say, it's not Stalin's time, and nobody follows only his own advise exclusively.

[StalinOrgel]

why agriculture is still in ruins, why manufacturing capacity was not restored, why military modernization was so slow and etc

Because extra oil revenues were to pay off Russian foreign debt, to resume payments to employees of a government-financed organization and to create Stabilization fund.

[gazell]

There is no doubt he is one of the richest men on the planet, ( Putin)

Is he?

[BMUS]

There is no doubt he is one of the richest men on the planet
Yeah, i would also like to hear an explanation to this... as im having a really hard time beliving in it.

[Winger]

Because it would be like a power stuggle between George Bush and Colin Powell.

Russia is not some 3rd world fiefdom. Putin and Medvedev form a team who together with the rest of the high-ups propogate very powerful interests and rule together. Even if 1 man has the final say, it's not Stalin's time, and nobody follows only his own advise exclusively.

Bad comparison. They don't have the tradition or history. True, things are different than before. But, the likelihood of an open struggle is about 100 times more probable in Russia.

[Mr.K]

http://www.demotivation.ru/images/20081225/3v7pnqo4sdkk.jpg

I just bought a car with a right steering wheel!

[Flamming_Python]

Bad comparison. They don't have the tradition or history. True, things are different than before. But, the likelihood of an open struggle is about 100 times more probable in Russia.

I see where you're coming from, but contrary to popular belief this is far from the first time Russia's rulers shared power. In fact without the presence of a determined ruler who takes absolute power through his own means, this is the default type of rulership of Russia and has been for some time.

In the early 20th century Nicholas II de facto shared power with his Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin, with the latter becoming responsible for a great amount of duties (this is by far the best analogy to the current Medvedev/Putin duo). After Lenin's death all the senior Bolsheviks shared power for at least half a decade before Stalin rose to dominate everyone else, his rivalry with Trotsky perhaps being the only example of a true power struggle in recent Russian history. Khrushchev was removed from power in 1964, which on first glance might look like a power struggle, but just the very fact that he was removed suggests that he was sharing power from the beggining. He was replaced by Brezhnev, who ruled together with the rest of the Supreme Soviet, only really securing himself as an undisputed ruler in the late 70's. Gorbachev was only rebelled against by his peers when his authority was on the brink of collapse due to Yeltsin's efforts.

Of course you can count the whole coup and '91 revolution as a power-struggle, but faced with the demise of the USSR I think the situation was considerably different from either now or in earlier Soviet times. Aside from this and the Russian revolution of 1917, AFAIK there haven't been any 'open' power struggles in Russia since the Decembrist revolt (and that was initiated by army officers not rival political figureheads).

[Walter Sobchak]

I see where you're coming from, but contrary to popular belief this is far from the first time Russia's rulers shared power. In fact without the presence of a determined ruler who takes absolute power through his own means, this is the default type of rulership of Russia and has been for some time.

Peter the Great shared power with his half-brother, Ivan, from the early 1680s (not sure the date), until Ivan died in 1697 or 98. Except for the examples you cited, wasn't there one other instance of power sharing by the Czars? It escapes me.

Putin and Medvedev have an interesting relationship. I don't think either one will violate the other's trust; to do so would invite a conflict at the top, which would probably bring both of them down. One theme I think is consistent in Russian leaders is that any weakness will surely lead to their downfall.

[Flamming_Python]

Peter the Great shared power with his half-brother, Ivan, from the early 1680s (not sure the date), until Ivan died in 1697 or 98. Except for the examples you cited, wasn't there one other instance of power sharing by the Czars? It escapes me.

Putin and Medvedev have an interesting relationship. I don't think either one will violate the other's trust; to do so would invite a conflict at the top, which would probably bring both of them down. One theme I think is consistent in Russian leaders is that any weakness will surely lead to their downfall.

The only other example I can think of is the one I already mentioned; in Nicholas II's time with Pyotor Stolypin. The Tsar was of course above Pyotor, but nontheless Stolypin was entrusted with a great amount of duties into his hands; similar to the Medvedev/Putin situation as I said. And yes I do also have a niggling that there may be 1 other example, but it also escapes me :(

As to Putin and Medvedev, they have common views and work well together. And yes, I think that even if great differences of opinion appear drive them apart, I don't think either of them would want Russia to follow the path of the Ukraine.

[EatenByRats]

Gosh, and here I was expecting for some juicy pics of Mickey taking it up the ass from Vlad.

[SrB-23Q]

http://www.demotivation.ru/images/20081225/3v7pnqo4sdkk.jpg

I just bought a car with a right steering wheel!

big deal theres millions of em down here p-)

[matthew.manhorn]

Putin-Medvedev relationship is more like a Reagan-Bush Senior relationship, not puppet like imo. Medvedev benefited from Putin's popularitiy just like Bush Senior did.

[Mr.K]

big deal theres millions of em down here p-)

It was made in the context of the new tax on used japanese cars.p-)

[Magnus18]

the relationship is something like this

http://www.robertamsterdam.com/deutsch/20071214RZ1AP-PutinPuppet.jpg