Most of Putin’s foreign policies remain the same a year+ Medvedev has taken over as President.

After President Dmitry Medvedev was elected last year, then-President Vladimir Putin made a rather telling promise about his chosen successor.

“Medvedev is no less a Russian nationalist than I am, in the positive sense of the word, and I do not think that our partners will have it any easier with him.” - Putin

Many intelligent westerners have alwayed known (beleived) that Russia is a “Directed Democracy”. Meaning a few elite people direct how the Democracy is run. In the Russian Directed Democracy it would be difficult for a unkwon long shot to rise to the top of government like President Barack Obama did in the United Satates. Most Westerners say this as some what of a put down to Russia. I do not think this is fair or correct. Russia has there own unique way of running a Democracy which is equal or perhaps better than the USA.

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