Putin-Medvedev Split

The Russian response to the NATO-enforced no-fly zone over Libya has produced the first major public difference in opinion between President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin. When the first bombings began, following Russia's abstaining on the UN Security Council Resolution, Putin spoke angrily of the intervention. He compared it to "a medieval call to crusades". Hours later, Medvedev gave a news conference indirectly rebuked Putin, saying "Under no circumstances is it acceptable to use expressions which make essentially to a clash of civilizations, such as 'crusades' and so on." Even Russia's state run television reflected the conflict of messages. At first it spoke of the intervention as an attack on a sovereign state as a war over oil and arms deal. After Medvedev's speech, it then praised the intervention, showing Col. Quadaffi as a ruthless dictator and the rebels grateful to the West. According to the Economist, this split won't have much effect on future policy decisions - Putin is still running show. Still, it adds to the curious buildup of circumstances leading to the 2012 elections. Will Medvedev step out from the shadow? Will Putin let him? This new twist suggests Medvedev is trying to become his own man, but to what end?

Source: Economist

Will Russia see Putin as President in 2012?

Vladimir Putin served as the President of the Russian Federation from 1999 until 2008. Constitutional limits on a third term prevented Putin from seeking re-election in 2008, so he moved aside as Dmitri Medvedev (who remains supported by Putin) was elected President in 2008. The former President is now the Prime Minister in the Medvedev administration and is the leader of the United Russia party. With his party role and political leadership, Putin continues to be an influential politician in Russia and is still very much in the spotlight both at home and abroad. With the next Presidential election in 2012, the BBC reports (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11211997) that Vladimir Putin has not ruled out seeking another term as President. Prime Minister Putin stated that he and President Medvedev would decide on "what would be best for Russia" as the election approaches. With more then two years until the election, Putin and Medvedev are not facing any pressure to make a decision. With the United Russia in firm control of the Duma and the presidency, neither leader faces significant opposition at this time. However, could the collusion between both politicians lead to a backlash by Russians during the 2012 election? Despite frequent multi-party elections, Russia has been criticized by some NGO's as being semi-authoritarian with unfair elections. If Medvedev passed the presidential baton back to Putin, would more criticism arise, or would a decisive vote by the Russian people silence critics?

Audio Links for Unit 1:
http://www.box.net/shared/zgaj5lh3gb
http://www.box.net/shared/hapybubt5v

"Putin wins respect at hip-hop party"...

Everything about that sentence is baffling.

So I was trawling the netarwebs, looking for my next blog post, when I found an article from Reuters about...well, Putin winning respect at a hip-hop party. Unfortunately, the Russian Prime Minister was not there to perform. The Battle for Respect is some kind of hip-hop awards show hosted by the Russian equivalent of MTV, called Muz TV, and Vladimir Putin was there to present awards to winners. According to the article, Putin also had a "stern message" about healthy living for attendees: "'I do not think that 'top-rock' or 'down-rock' breakdance technique is compatible with alcohol or drugs,' Putin told cheering hip-hoppers who responded with chants of 'Respect, Vladimir Vladimirovich.'" The article speculates that the purpose of the appearance was to boost the PM's flagging ratings, but his spokesman denied that this was the case.

I was really hoping for a video or at least an audio clip of Putin breakdancing and/or totally thrashing some kid in a rap battle, and now you are, too.

Putinjugend...

A follow up to the Admiral's earlier post on Наши, the Russian youth movement... Quoting from the International Tribune's ever useful Russian Press Review:

KOMMERSANT

YOUTH LEADER JOINS BIG GOVERNMENT: The leader of Nashi, Russia's most prominent Kremlin-connected youth group, may soon have a job as head of a new federal agency on youth policies, the newspaper wrote citing an unnamed Kremlin source. If appointed to the position Vasily Yakemenko would be charged with formulating Russia's youth policies, forging relationships with youth-related nongovernmental organizations and overseeing "patriotic education." Mr. Yakemenko has long been considered the most likely candidate for the job. Under his watch, Nashi has become an important political instrument for agitating on behalf of key Kremlin policies through street protests and large demonstrations.