After eight years of rule that saw Russia's influence and wealth grow, voters in the Far East were the first in this vast nation to cast their ballots for President Vladimir Putin's successor. Most of them preferred Putin's candidate. As per Constitutional requirement, Putin is expected to leave Presidency in May upon completing his second term. Putin is constitutionally barred from running for a third consecutive term. He not only endorsed Medvedev to replace him and but also has said he is ready to serve next as PM. Russians looked to Dmitry Medvedev, the president elect, the man they overwhelmingly chose as their next president, to continue Vladimir Putin's policies of asserting this resurgent country's power abroad and keeping a tight grip on society at home. As a key implementer of Putin's policies, Medvedev is seen as unlikely to alter Putin's policies at home and abroad: reduce state control over Russia's mineral riches, allow real opposition movements to flourish or Kremlin's assertive stance with the West. Medvedev will be the youngest Russian leader since Tsar Nicholas II, had over 70 percent support in opinion polls continuously, over five times more than his nearest rival. Russian voters have handed Dmitry Medvedev victory almost in a one-sided presidential election. Medvedev will be the first Russian leader to succeed his predecessor according to a constitutional timetable; Putin became acting president first after Russia's first president, Boris Yeltsin, stepped down early, and only later won election. But Medvedev's election was not a wide-open contest.

Medvedev will become president of a vast country that has re-emerged as a force on the world stage after lying low for nearly two decades. Russia is now the world's second biggest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia, it is pouring money into military hardware and it is once again challenging the West on issues from Kosovo to Washington's plan for a missile shield in Europe. Though he has never held elected office, Medvedev has had an easy ride toward the presidency. He spearheaded the Kremlin's concept of making Russia an "energy superpower" as chairman of Gazprom state gas monopoly, strong-arming former Soviet neighbours and expanding Russia's control of Europe's energy supplies.

Dr Abdul Ruff Colachal