Who Is Running Russia?

Dimitri Medvedev and Vladimir Putin

Medvedev vs. Putin? Mystery Returns To The Kremlin. -- Christian Science Monitor

Is Medvedev the lapdog of Putin? Or is he biting his mentor's ankles? No one knows, which makes taking sides a dangerous guessing game, particularly for the White House.

Once again, Russia seems to be living up to Winston Churchill's famous description of being "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma."

Vladimir Putin defied that description. By May 2008, when his eight years as president ended, Mr. Putin had clearly and purposefully turned Russia into a "managed democracy," cutting back political and human rights, leading an aggressive foreign policy, and reintroducing state control of giant corporations, especially oil and gas. No question about intentions there.

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My Comment: This reminds me of the stories that were circulated when George W. Bush was elected. Was he going to be the President .... or Dick Cheney.

George W. Bush was (of course) the President .... the same can be said about Medvedev.

If Putin decides to run in the next presidential election .... and wins. He is then the President and leader .... nothing more complicated than that.