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Russia: President Dmitry Medvedev to face media Russia's Medvedev refuses to be drawn on 2012 election
(about 4 hours later)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is due to hold his first large news conference since taking office. Dmitry Medvedev, addressing his first full press conference as Russian president, has refused to be drawn on whether he will seek re-election.
Former President Vladimir Putin began the tradition of holding annual conferences, but this lapsed when Mr Medvedev took power three years ago. He suggested that a news conference was not the right setting for making an announcement of such importance.
He will appear before hundreds of reporters and numerous TV crews. Mr Medvedev's predecessor and mentor, Vladimir Putin, is eligible to stand again as president in 2012, after two previous terms in the Kremlin.
The move has furthered speculation that Mr Medvedev plans to run in the 2012 presidential elections, the BBC's Moscow correspondent says. Speculation has grown about differences between the two men.
Mr Medvedev has taken part in press briefings before, but has never held a full-scale question-and-answer session with the press in the manner of Mr Putin, who is currently Russia's prime minister. Mr Medvedev began his news conference by speaking on the need for Russia to modernise - a theme familiar from his speeches.
More than 800 journalists are reported to have been accredited for Wednesday's news conference. Symbolic venue
A keen advocate of technology, Mr Medvedev confirmed he would appear at the news conference href="http://twitter.com/#!/MedvedevRussiaE/status/70575545917784064" >by posting on social network Twitter. Mr Medvedev has taken part in press briefings before, but has never held a full-scale question-and-answer session with the press in the manner of Mr Putin, who is currently prime minister.
The more liberal-minded Dmitry Medvedev has spent most of his years in office in the shadow of Mr Putin, says the BBC's Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford. He has spent most of his years in office in the shadow of Mr Putin, says the BBC's Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford.
Many had expected him to return his title to the former President Putin at elections next year. Many have expected him to step aside in favour of his mentor, Mr Putin, at the election next year.
But it is now unclear whether the president and prime minister will run head-to-head in the 2012 elections. But it is now unclear whether the president and prime minister will run head to head in the 2012 elections.
Suggestions of a power struggle have been fuelled by recent public disputes between the two men - most notably over Libya, our correspondent says.Suggestions of a power struggle have been fuelled by recent public disputes between the two men - most notably over Libya, our correspondent says.
"Medvedev will try to show he is not simply a 'yes man' but that he is almost an equal to Putin," one unnamed trader working at a Western investment bank in Moscow told the Reuters news agency."Medvedev will try to show he is not simply a 'yes man' but that he is almost an equal to Putin," one unnamed trader working at a Western investment bank in Moscow told the Reuters news agency.
The Skolkovo School of Management, where the conference will be held, is described as a key institute in Mr Medvedev's plans to modernise Russia.The Skolkovo School of Management, where the conference will be held, is described as a key institute in Mr Medvedev's plans to modernise Russia.
Russian presidential terms are now six years, and remaining in power for two consecutive terms is allowed.Russian presidential terms are now six years, and remaining in power for two consecutive terms is allowed.