Dmitry Medvedev's Biography

Russian President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev was born on September 14, 1965, in the Soviet Union's most liberal city, Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).

From early on, he showed an interest in law, even though his parents, both university professors, wanted him to study another subject.

At the same time, he was someting of a rebel, collecting blacklisted copies of American rock bands' albums. His favourite band, Deep Purple, played his going away party as chair of energy giant Gazprom in February 2008.

After graduating in law from Leningrad State University, Medvedev decided to pursue a doctorate at the same institution, which he completed in 1990.

As a specialist in private, corporate and securities law, Medvedev maintained a double life in business and politics from 1990 to 1999. He had a private law practice, cofounded several businesses, and advised others in their work with the government.

Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin got to know each other in courses they took from Anatoly Sobchak, the future mayor of St. Petersburg, who was well known for advocating political pluralism and the establishment of a free market. Medvedev remained close to Sobchak, creating many of the laws - such as the 1991 Russian civil code - that would provide the legal foundation for post-Soviet Russia.

The everyday life of this behind-the-scenes player completely changed in 2000, when long-time friend Putin was elected president, appointing him chair of the Gazprom board.

In November 2005, Medvedev took another major step in his meteoric rise to the upper echelons of power when then-president Putin appointed him to the specially created post of first deputy prime minister in the Russian government.

These sudden changes and his new-found popularity have not changed him. Medvedev is still married to Svetlana, who he met while they were in the seventh grade. They have a 13-year-old son, Ilya. Medvedev still reportedly swims twice a day, plays chess, and practices yoga.

Putin officially announced his support for Medvedev’s 2008 presidential bid on December 10, 2007. In return, Medvedev said, if elected, he would ask Putin to serve as prime minister.

Medvedev was elected as the third president of the Russian Federation on March 2, 2008, winning 70.28% of the popular vote. Putin was subsequently confirmed as prime minister.

"I believe my most important aims will be to protect civil and economic freedoms […] We must fight for the true respect of the law and overcome legal nihilism, which seriously hampers modern development," Medvedev said at the ceremony in which he assumed the presidency at the Kremlin Palace.

The BBC has described him as "the country's first leader in decades with no known links either to the former Soviet Communist party or secret services".

See also:
Itinerary: Medvedev's Serbian Schedule

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