Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW481
2008-02-22 06:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

SUBJECT: MEDVEDEV, COMING OUT OF THE SHADOWS?

Tags:  PGOV PINR KDEM ECON SOCI RS 
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DE RUEHMO #0481/01 0530640
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 220640Z FEB 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6746
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000481 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ECON SOCI RS
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: MEDVEDEV, COMING OUT OF THE SHADOWS?

REF: REF MOSCOW 00431

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns. Reasons: 1.4 (B) & (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000481

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ECON SOCI RS
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: MEDVEDEV, COMING OUT OF THE SHADOWS?

REF: REF MOSCOW 00431

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns. Reasons: 1.4 (B) & (D).


1. (SBU) Summary: Dmitriy Medvedev, heir apparent to the
Russian Presidency, continued his whistle-stop tour of the
country, touting his vision in Krasnoyarsk and Izhevsk of an
economically vibrant country, with a strong market system,
and without the corruption that permeates society today. His
interview this week in "Itogi" magazine offered a rare
glimpse of the candidate's foreign policy views, which
sounded (not unexpectedly) Putinesque. He accused the
British Council of engaging in espionage, took indirect jabs
at Ukraine's chaotic democratic process, and advocated a firm
foreign policy that "shows teeth" to insure that Russia gets
its proper respect. The tone of the comments reflected
Medvedev's more "sophisticated" style, but his points
suggested that in international affairs, "Putinism" will
guide Russian foreign policy for some time to come, wherever
Putin himself is sitting.

One Week to Go
--------------


2. (SBU) Medvedev's campaign -- if that is what one might
call it -- continued to dominate the television and print
media, with only limited coverage of his competitors, mainly
during "official" campaign commercials and debates. There is
little evidence in Moscow or the regions that a presidential
campaign is underway -- an election commission official in
Kemerovo Oblast told us that none of the campaigns were using
billboards because it was "too expensive." There was no sign
that a presidential campaign was less than two weeks away
during a February 12-13 visit to Volgograd (septel).
Medvedev's Itogi comments follow his Krasnoyarsk speech on
February 15 that stressed the importance of freedom and
highlighted his "liberal" approach to economic development,
based upon the four "I"s: infrastructure, innovation,
investment, institutions (reftel).

The Itogi Interview
--------------


3. (SBU) Perhaps to motivate the "average" Russian to head to
the polls on March 2, Medvedev's campaign this week paid for

a long interview in Itogi magazine with the candidate. (Itogi
is a popular middle-brow news weekly, filling a niche similar
to that of "Time" magazine.) In a style similar to Putin's
"First Person" interviews, Medvedev explained his roots and
provided an "inside" view of his life, hobbies, and
interests. He discussed his family -- underscoring their
modest origins -- and described a happy childhood spent with
his parents and grandparents, filled with fun on the streets
of Leningrad and a love of knowledge, inherited from his
academic father. Medvedev comes across as a "regular guy"
who loves his hometown, soccer, and his wife and son. He said
that he was secretly baptized at age 23 and from that point
he "started a different life."


4. (SBU) Medvedev's responses to policy-related questions
spoiled the homey atmosphere, however, and gave an indication
of the candidate's views on foreign policy. He underscored
that he supported "everything" that had been done in the past
eight years and approved of a more assertive foreign policy,
suggesting that giving in on even "minor" issues like the
British Council helped to foster an image of weakness abroad.
His sharp criticisms of the British Council as an
organization involved in espionage give little hope that
Medvedev will move quickly to shore up relations with London
-- a refutation of the hopes of the more pro-Western elite,
such as electricity monopoly head Anatoliy Chubays. Medvedev
also dismissed European concerns about Russian energy
leverage with his insistence that Gazprom meets all its
contractual obligations, but acknowledged that gas and oil
(as well as "bombs") gave Russia stature on the international
stage.


5. (SBU) Speaking about domestic politics, Medvedev
unequivocally advocated a continued strong presidential
system, with an offhand swipe at Ukraine's unsettled
political situation as what might happen if Russia were to
try a parliamentary approach. When asked about his views
about managing Putin as Premier, Medvedev said that the two
of them understood that such an "alliance" would work only in
an atmosphere of mutual trust and partnership.

Comment:
--------------


6. (SBU) The publication of the Itogi article coincided with
Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, a time when
no candidate in Russia would be in a position to advocate a
more pro-Western foreign policy. The choice of a popular
magazine and Medvedev's folksy manner suggest that the
article targeted the broader public, whose general mood has
been trending "left" domestically, but supportive of "tough
talk" abroad. As such, his comments may well have been
crafted with the Kremlin's recognition of the challenge in
"getting out the vote" in a contest with a foregone
conclusion. Medvedev's advocacy of a firm line with the West
may also have been designed to polish his bona fides as a
Russian patriot with the more hard-line members of the elite.
That said, the Itogi interview likely disappointed those here
who are anxious for a foreign policy that is more measured
and less combative.

BURNS