April 27, 2007 - 16:52 AMT
Sergey Ivanov - Russia's next President, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes
«Russian President Vladimir Putin trained the state and world to a regime of staff special operations. This way Mikhail Fradkov and Sergey Sobyanin climbed the top of the Olympus. Watching the moves of the two potential successors - Sergey Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev - all thought that Putin will find someone third,» Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. «However, high rank officials say game is over. The President has made his decision. The name of Russia's next President is Sergey Ivanov. Dmitry Medvedev will be appointed Prime Minister.

«Analysis of peculiarities of the successors' presence in the information field proves the same. Sergey Ivanov's interview with Financial Times is distinctive from this aspect. The First Vice Premier answered questions referring to Russia's internal and foreign policy as well. Dmitry Medvedev, when addressing forums in Saint Petersburg and Davos did not go beyond internal policy and economy. Making statements on foreign policy is the prerogative of a potential successor. Early this week Medvedev gave an interview for Itogi magazine. His answers did not resemble statements of a politician who is going to hold talks with the leaders of world powers in a year or two. He was speaking about national projects.

National projects are Kremlin's tactical tools while diversification and innovation of economy entrusted to Ivanov is a strategic task.

The picture we get from e-media also proves this version. The ORT, RTR and NTV furnished equal time for the two major candidates. The situation cardinally changed after February 15. Medvedev's time remained unchanged while Ivanov's time became twice as much, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports.