PUTIN NAMES MEDVEDEV AS PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSOR

摘要

After nearly a year of speculation, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed to Dmitri Medvedev, one of his first deputy prime ministers, to succeed him as president in March. Medvedev, a lawyer and long-time associate of Putin's, is all but assured to win the candidacy on March 2 after getting the blessing of Putin over the other first deputy prime minister, Sergei Ivanov, a former KGB agent, and newcomer Viktor Zubkov, who Putin installed as prime minister in September. "As far as Dmitri Anatolyevich Medvedev's candidacy is concerned, I have known him very closely for more than 17 years," said Putin during a Dec. 10 television address. "We have worked very closely together all these years and I completely and utterly support this choice."