MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that he will support First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as president, ending years of speculation about his choice and all but ensuring that his longtime associate and young protege will succeed him in the Kremlin next year.
“I have known him very closely for more than 17 years, and I completely and fully support this proposal,” said Putin, speaking to the leaders of four political parties, including the ruling United Russia party, who said they would nominate Medvedev as their candidate.
Medvedev, 42, a lawyer by training who is also chairman of the energy giant Gazprom, is regarded as a relative liberal among the constellation of political factions in the Kremlin.
Unlike many in Putin’s immediate circle, he has no background in the KGB or the security services. He is believed to be open to constructive relations with the West and greater political pluralism at home.
“It’s a signal to the West that we want to continue communication and cooperation,” said Igor Bunin, head of the Center for Political Technologies in Moscow, in an interview.
“There won’t be any radical changes in his presidency, but I believe Medvedev will be milder than Putin. He will largely follow the course set by Putin, but he is more oriented toward the Western model, building a democratic tradition, Bunin said.”
Medvedev owes his entire political life to Putin, and the two are said to have a father-son relationship.
