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Medvedev to become Russian leader Medvedev to become Russian leader
(about 2 hours later)
Dmitry Medvedev is to be inaugurated as Russia's third president since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Dmitry Medvedev is being inaugurated as Russia's third president since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The Kremlin Palace ceremony will begin at midday (0800 GMT) in front of 2,400 invited guests. The Kremlin Palace ceremony is being held in front of 2,400 invited guests.
For the 42-year-old father of one, the inauguration will cap a sharp ascendance from obscurity. Mr Medvedev, 42, won a landslide victory in the March elections. The inauguration will cap his sharp ascendance from obscurity.
But while Vladimir Putin is handing over the reigns of power, his central role in the ceremony will reflect the part he has to play in Russia's future.But while Vladimir Putin is handing over the reigns of power, his central role in the ceremony will reflect the part he has to play in Russia's future.
Analysts suggest Mr Putin, 55, will be a pivotal figure in Mr Medvedev's administration after he assumes his new post of prime minister, possibly as early as Thursday. Mr Putin, 55, was barred by the constitution to run for a third consecutive term in the March polls.
Although brief, the inauguration will not be under-stated: with the Russian flag, presidential standard and a copy of the country's constitution being borne aloft into a grand hall where Mr Putin will make a speech before handing Mr Medvedev the chain of office. However, analysts suggest he will remain a pivotal figure in Mr Medvedev's administration after he assumes his new post of prime minister, possibly as early as Thursday.
Although brief, the inauguration is not being under-stated: with the Russian flag, presidential standard and a copy of the country's constitution being borne aloft into a grand hall where Mr Putin will make a speech before handing Mr Medvedev the chain of office.
Lengthy partnershipLengthy partnership
Having campaigned as Mr Putin's protege and tied himself to his mentor's policies as soon as his victory became known, analysts say it is no surprise that Mr Putin will continue to play a central role.Having campaigned as Mr Putin's protege and tied himself to his mentor's policies as soon as his victory became known, analysts say it is no surprise that Mr Putin will continue to play a central role.
Mr Putin (R) will stay close to the heart of power as prime ministerMr Putin (R) will stay close to the heart of power as prime minister
An economic liberal, Mr Medvedev has served Mr Putin as first deputy prime minister, chairman of Gazprom - Russia's enormous state-run gas monopoly, campaign chief and chief of staff.An economic liberal, Mr Medvedev has served Mr Putin as first deputy prime minister, chairman of Gazprom - Russia's enormous state-run gas monopoly, campaign chief and chief of staff.
But his working relationship with the spy-come-president goes back much further.But his working relationship with the spy-come-president goes back much further.
A lawyer by training, in the 1990s Mr Medvedev was an assistant professor at St Petersburg State University, during which time he became an expert consultant for the city's mayor - one Vladimir Putin.A lawyer by training, in the 1990s Mr Medvedev was an assistant professor at St Petersburg State University, during which time he became an expert consultant for the city's mayor - one Vladimir Putin.
And, analysts suggest, their partnership looks set to continue.And, analysts suggest, their partnership looks set to continue.
But the question of who wields the real power in the Kremlin will continue to fascinate , puzzle and perplex, the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says.
Mr Putin will remain Russia's most popular politician for the foreseeable future, which will give him huge influence over the man he mentored as his successor, our correspondent says.
The Kremlin's lack of tolerance for dissenters was highlighted on Tuesday as police detained dozens of would-be protestors in advance of a planned rally by The Other Russia, an opposition group led by world chess champion Garry Kasparov.The Kremlin's lack of tolerance for dissenters was highlighted on Tuesday as police detained dozens of would-be protestors in advance of a planned rally by The Other Russia, an opposition group led by world chess champion Garry Kasparov.