Moscow’s Leading Question: Who’s in Charge of Russia, Vladimir Putin or Dmitry Medvedev?


 

Publication Date: January 2008

Publisher: Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace

Author(s): Paul R. Gregory

Research Area: Politics

Keywords: Russia; Putin; Medvedev

Type: Report

Abstract:

Do Putin and Medvedev intend to share power in Russia for more than a transitory period? If so, would this work? Russian history has a lot to say about these missing puzzle pieces. Past leaders saw extreme dangers in a state dominated by the secret police and made sure to keep them in check. Moreover, it seems that in Russia power cannot be shared at the top and that the victor in power struggles is often the one who is the least expected.