Medvedev

Early Life and Career

Dmitry Medvedev was born in Leningrad in 1965. He studied law at Leningrad State University, where he met his future mentor and political ally, Vladimir Putin.

Medvedev's first job was as a legal adviser to the city council of his hometown. He later joined Putin's administration in the early 1990s, rising through the ranks in various government roles. In 2005, Putin tapped Medvedev to become the first deputy prime minister and in 2008, he was elected president of Russia.

Presidential Years and Beyond

During his presidency, Medvedev made strides towards modernization in Russia. He promoted innovation and technology and worked to loosen state control over the economy. However, his tenure was not without controversy. Many Russians felt that he was a puppet for Putin, who was widely believed to have held true power behind the scenes.

After leaving the presidency, Medvedev served as prime minister under Putin from 2012 to 2020. He remained a close ally of Putin and served as the head of the ruling political party, United Russia. Though he has been largely absent from the public eye in recent years, he still wields significant political power and influence in Russia.