Annointed President D. Medvedev an hour ago announced that he pleads for Vladimir Putin to accept the office of Head of Government in case he’ll get elected President in March (it was not Putin who stated the he will actually accept such an offer). However, I consider it highly unlikely that this scenario will actually unfold. What then is the aim of Medvedev’s announcement?

The first reason is to send a signal to the siloviki and chekisty camp defeated by Putin’s decision to support Medvedev’s candidacy. This camp is the loser of recent developments. It had supported a third term for Vladimir Putin, even had tried to pressurize him to stay in power. To prevent even more cadre instability – more arrests, more public infighting, more violent clashes in suburb dachas – , the announcement to keep Putin within the echelons of power might aim to placate the losers and signal them continuity as regards the siloviki’s perks and privileges.

A much more important reason for Medvedev’s announcement is to stage an electoral ploy. Putin and he thereby give a signal to the voters which is: ‘If you elect Medvedev, you’ll get Putin too’. Given the immense popularity of Vladimir Putin this trick will easily catapult Medvedev into the Kremlin. I consider it highly unlikely though that Putin will accept becoming Head of Government.

Why is that? Well, read in my next blog entry.