If Medvedev arrives in Minsk with Putin he will become President

Vladimir Putin has announced vice Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev his successor. A Russian political scientist is sure that the relations between Russia and Belarus will not change if Medvedev is elected President. The Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced Dmitri Medvedev, the first vice Prime Minister of the country, his successor today.

“I have known him for 17 years and I support his candidature”, - claimed the Russian President.

ERB asked a Russian political scientist Andrei Suzdaltsev to comment on Vladimir Putin’s statement. He thinks that the foreign policy concerning our country will not change. If Dmitri Medvedev goes to Minsk with Putin it will definitely mean that he will be the next Russian President:

Andrei Suzdaltsev: “You should not unambiguously understand everything Vladimir Putin says before the election campaign. It is a very complicated situation so the fact that he mentioned the name of Dmitri Medvedev is good but it does not mean anything yet.

Everything will be decided after December 20. Speaking about the relations between Medvedev and Belarus I think that nothing will change. Medvedev is very close to the President and he is aware of all Putin’s decisions concerning Belarus.

If Mr. Medvedev is included in Putin’s delegation to Minsk then it will be clear and there will be no more doubt”.

However, the political scientist says that the fact that Medvedev may become President will not mean any succession for Russian home policy:

Andrei Suzdaltsev: “Putin represents stabilization in all spheres in Russia. A new President will mean new guiding lines in the development of our country because stabilization does not satisfy some business circles”.