Has Russia's "tandem" finally split?

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal

"An excessive concentration of power is indeed a dangerous thing. It has happened in our country many times and as a rule it has either led to stagnation or civil war, therefore we must not allow that."

Powerful words from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to a meeting of United Russia party members. This is a highly intelligent man and his words were measured and delivered carefully to his audience. Now, to be clear he did not threaten or suggest a deadly dividing of the country, but Mr Medvedev was quick to remind the those assembled that Russia's history speaks for itself.

Watch those comments here:

Encouraged by a group of wealthy oligarchs sometimes termed as Russia's "ruling elite" to take his case to the Russian people, Mr Medvedev went on the offensive in response to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's announcement of a new political coalition intended to overshadow the United Russia party Putin had formed just years earlier.

Russia's ruling elite appears to be increasingly split on the issue and Russia faces a presidential election next March in which neither Mr Putin, 58, nor Mr Medvedev, 45, have ruled out running. Both are clearly on the campaign trail where it matters--with the wealthy oligarchs who ultimately control who does or doesn't run for office.

Saying that "Attempts to tailor the political system to one specific individual are dangerous," Mr Medvedev launched a full scale attack on the cult of personality surrounding Mr Putin.

One such cult group in particular is represented by a sect based near the Volga River city of Nizhny Novgorod who say that Mr Putin is a reincarnation of Saint Paul the Apostle. The sect teaches that as in the early life of the Apostle, Mr Putin persecuted others as an officer of the KGB, but "once he became president, was imbued with the holy spirit, and just like the apostle, he started heading his flock," the sect's founder stated.

Mr Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded by saying, "It is impressive that they think so highly of the prime minister's work. But I would like to recall another of the main commandments: thou shalt not worship false idols."

Asked in a CNN interview whether PM Putin is the real power in Russia and Medvedev just a puppet, President Medvedev responded by saying, "It's an absolutely obvious thing to anyone who wants to sort it out. But let those who think in cliches go on thinking. I understand that sometimes people wish to think in terms of a vision they've created."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin introduced his new "All-Russian People's Front" last Thursday, but since then President Medvedev has said that "no party can consider itself dominant by default" and vowed to ensure political competition in the coming year leading up to the 2012 elections.

[mendeleyev]

Of particular interest was the President's announcement that he had submitted to the Duma a draft law that requires banks and registration agencies to disclose information on the property of persons applying for public office, as well as their families.
 
In light of the recent flap over a multimillion dollar mansion supposedly being built for Prime Minister Putin (it was quickly sold after the news became public), and the possible misuse of state funds regarding that project, this Medvedev initiative could be viewed as another in a growing list of direct challenges to plans Mr. Putin might have on returning to the presidency.
 
In spite of well meaning but usually off base Washington pundits who have convinced themselves that President Medvedev is a mere puppet of Mr. Putin, the Mendeleyev Journal has been on record for over 2 years in saying that Medvedev is strongly considering a run for re-election regardless of the Prime Minister's plans. Their visions for the future of Russia prove to be quite different with each passing day and Medvedev clearly favours a more democratic approach to governance.

[mendeleyev]

Note: please do not copy the pronunciation of "Medvedev" that most Western announcers use, including the video link posted above. Even Larry King got it wrong, embarrassingly wrong, on his final interview with Vladimir Putin before retiring.

Despite that fact the Hillary Clinton still can't say it correctly after being Secretary of State for several years, "Medvedev" is not that hard to master.

Whatever you do, don't make it a chore (like this guy, but he is funny):


Despite the fact that this RW lists 4 syllables on the screen (that is wrong) she does a great job of teaching us how to speak it correctly:

There, after watching her video, you can do what CNN, Larry King, Hillary Clinton and a host of other prominent idiots can't seem to do--you can say Medvedev correctly!

About the only thing left to be fluent in Russian political circles is to change the way most of us say "Vladimir." It's similar to how we mis-speak Ivan which is really "ee-VAHN" in Russian.

There is no "Vlad" in Vladimir. Nope, not a hint.

There is however a "vlah-de-mir" whose last name is Putin and he serves at Prime Minister of Russia.

[Gator]

I was told that Medvedev was Putin's puppet (by someone who would never vote for Putin).  Is this split a ploy, and in fact the two are closely aligned?

[Gator]

Despite the fact that this RW lists 4 syllables on the screen (that is wrong) she does a great job of teaching us how to speak it correctly:

 
Reminds me of a Moscow RW trying to teach me correct pronunciation and not accepting anything less than perfect.  The problem was my ear could not distinguish between what she and I were saying ("a bear stepped on my ear when a baby").   Finally she relented, and she recognized my Russian words when I used them a day later.   
 
Are many Russians so wired that they are not satisfied with anything short of perfection?  Winning the Bronze medal was not acceptable - I must achieve Gold. 
 
Of course, I never corrected her accent, yet she was conscious of it.

[mendeleyev]

I was told that Medvedev was Putin's puppet (by someone who would never vote for Putin).  Is this split a ploy, and in fact the two are closely aligned?[/i][/font]

Gator, this is going to be a long answer. [/i][/font]

[mendeleyev]

Gator, for some reason the forum software will not accept my reply. Perhaps because it is of necessity, of great length.

With apologies, I have posted my reply to your question on a special page of the Mendeleyev Journal. You can find it here.

[Rubicon]

I highly recommend everyone to go to the above link and watch the video!!  Friggen Awesome!!  2012 is coming soon!!

Med Veee Ah Div!!!

[Gator]

Thanks Mendeleyev.  Winston Churchill's quote comes to mind.
 
 

[Lily]

 
Reminds me of a Moscow RW trying to teach me correct pronunciation and not accepting anything less than perfect.  The problem was my ear could not distinguish between what she and I were saying ("a bear stepped on my ear when a baby").   Finally she relented, and she recognized my Russian words when I used them a day later.   
 
Are many Russians so wired that they are not satisfied with anything short of perfection?  Winning the Bronze medal was not acceptable - I must achieve Gold. 
 
Of course, I never corrected her accent, yet she was conscious of it.

That's a right observation. It is probably one of the reasons that Russian immigrants take their accent rather seriously. There is a certain standard of speaking in a right way, and one should strive to achieve it, if you want to be perceived as fully fledged member of society where you are a part now. If you are pronouncing differently, this is no good.

I don't know when I will go out this Russian mentality trap Sometimes I feel that my accent is not such a big problem, and may be even attractive for a Northern American ear. But sometimes when I hear successful people of my level of education speaking English, it makes me think that I differ in a rather undesirable way.

[Boethius]

In childhood Medvedev was a rebel. His working class parents wanted him to study science but the young Dmitry was more interested in sports, books, and as a teen he secretly collected illegal Western rock music albums. His favourites included groups like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. In order to earn money for books and albums Medvedev took jobs in construction and as a street cleaner.
Both men received formal educations in law at Leningrad State University. During that time Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin studied (separately) under the outspoken Democrat Anatoly Sobchak who would later become mayor of St. Petersburg. It was Sobchak who really brought the two together in his run for the Congress of People’s Deputies of the Soviet Republic as a democratic reformer, advocating free markets and a multi party political system

.

You make Medvedev sound like some sort of rebel.  But in the USSR, to get a job as a street cleaner was not easy, it was a path to the KGB and only the most trusted representatives of the system would have had the opportunity to work such positions.

He also would have hidden his Western record collection, which would have been considered "tletvornoe vliyaniye zapada".  No way would he have made it to a career in law if he was under an influence other than the party.  Anyone who was not "ideologically clean" would never have made it to Leningrad State University, let alone the Faculty of Law, which required obkom approval and five to seven years in "party organs" to prove your fealty to the system.

[Jack]

Mendy I want to thank you for the updated information you have passed on.
 
I for one would like very much like to see Medvedev win re-election.  In the long term Putin will set back what little progress has been made over the last two decades.  Putin could have years ago found out who was guilty of killing the journalist who did not follow his practice or those journalist who asked to many questions but to do so, well, one can only imagine why NONE of the journalist and outspoken Russians murders have been solved.
 
Putin is pretty much an old KGB thug, please note my opinion only, other opinions can and will vary.
 
Medvedev will make Russia a much better country sooner than later.
 
 

[SANDRO43]

But in the USSR, to get a job as a street cleaner was not easy, it was a path to the KGB

They must have believed in officers rising from the ranks, or was handling dirt a career pre-requisite ?

[Boethius]

They must have believed in officers rising from the ranks, or was handling dirt a career pre-requisite ?

 
Who better to observe what is happening in the streets of a city in a totalitarian state than a cleaner?  My husband told me they had microphones, from which they reported events.

[Gator]

Sometimes I feel that my accent is not such a big problem, and may be even attractive for a Northern American ear.

 
True.
 

But sometimes when I hear successful people of my level of education speaking English, it makes me think that I differ in a rather undesirable way.

Take solace in the areas where you excel, and for you there are many.  Analyze the whole "you" and marvel at yourself.

[OlgaH]

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin introduced his new "All-Russian People's Front" last Thursday...

From today Russian news:

According to the survey 66% still doesn't know about Putin's party.
56% of people cannot decide if they will support or not. 21 % are against the idea, 23% support the idea. Sociologist cannot tell today their prognoses regarding the party's popularity but estimate the chances as 50/50

Most respondents don't like the aggressive name.

[OlgaH]

More from Russian news:

Businessmen of Russia support Putin's idea on "All-Russian People's Front". BTW Aleksander Shokhin is not only the president of the Russian Unity of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs but he also leads the commission of presidium of general council of the "United Russia" party on "Industry and Enterprise, he offered to institutionalize the commission of the "United Russia" he leads as a commission of Putin's new ""All-Russian People's Front"

[mendeleyev]

Boethius, you perhaps recall the older citizens, often ladies, who cleared the trash chutes near the entry to older style apartments. I've heard stories of requirements that they report any suspicious article or movement in/out of the building to local KGB officials.

Medvedev in his writings has described both his record collection and the fact that it was hidden.

Businessmen of Russia support Putin's idea on "All-Russian People's Front". BTW Aleksander Shokhin is not only the president of the Russian Unity of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs but he also leads the commission of presidium of general council of the "United Russia" party on "Industry and Enterprise, he offered to institutionalize the commission of the "United Russia" he leads as a commission of Putin's new ""All-Russian People's Front"

Olga, as you know it will these kinds of people who ultimately decide who will run. The average citizen of course will select from predetermined candidate(s).



Jack, applaud your position. Visas for journalists are a diplomatic matter and handled thru the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, therefore the state knows much more about such matters than they often pretend.  A native Russian journalist associate keeps saying that a new revolution is less than a decade away. At this point I've no idea whether he is right or mistaken.

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal

More sparing took place today in the speculation as to who will run for president of Russia next year.

President Medvedev's staff unveiled a new website designed to teach children how to be a part of Russia's political opposition. Stressing that a political opposition and an independent media is crucial to developing democracy, the website's mission is to teach kids now to understand and uphold the constitution of the Russian Federation...and hold officials accountable to do the same.

For those who read Russian, the site is here.

The website explains that political opposition ensures "the authorities constantly feel their responsibility towards citizens" and an independent media informs citizens about mistakes by those in power.

[mendeleyev]

Regime change coming to Belarus, via Russia?

President Medvedev of the Russian Federation initiated a call at 3:30 local Moscow time this afternoon to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the President of Belarus. Moscow will deny the multi BILLION (USD) in loans previously assured to Lukashenko so that his government could continue to operate. Cash strapped Belarus has run out of money and it seems there is nowhere to turn for help. Russia had already loaned billions twice in the past 24 months. The call lasted just under a half hour.

Immediately afterward Mr Medvedev met with Vladimir Putin's Deputy Prime Minister, Sergei Invanov. Angry at failure to fully meet deadlines in deliveries of arms and military equipment as part of an earlier presidential executive order on military restructuring, the President ordered the firing of several Defense Ministry officials.

[mendeleyev]

The Mendeleyev Journal
 
The first full news conference of the Medvedev era was broadcast live from the Skolkovo School of Management outside of Moscow. Lasting 2-1/2 hours, the press conference was carried by the main state channels including Channel One, Rossiya, Rossiya-24, Russia Today, Eurovision, Radio Mayak, Voice of Russia, Vesti FM and Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda. Live video stream of the news conference was available online on the following websites: www.1tv.ru, www.vesti.ru, www.rian.ru, and Komsomolskaya Pravda television channel on-line.
 
The Broadcast in English was available on www.RT.com, worldwide on the Voice of Russia, in the USA on Voice of Russia's radio stations in New York City on 1430AM, in Washington DC on 1390AM and in London via DAB digital audio.
 
Over 800 journalists were accredited to cover the news conference. Of these, 300 represented television channels, 45 represented radio stations, and 240 journalists were from print and on-line media outlets; more than 40 photographers were present. About 300 accredited journalists represented foreign media outlets; nearly 500 were from the Russian media.
 
The main hall that seats close to 400 was filled, as was an auxiliary room. Accredited journalists had an opportunity to submit their question for the President on-line. The deadline for submitting questions was two hours before the news conference. Journalists whose questions were cleared for use in the forum received a notice by email. Questions are made available to credentialed media (in Russian) prior to the news conference. In total, the President received 210 questions.
 
The Presidential Press Office provides simultaneous translations for non-Russian speaking journalists in four languages: English, German, French and Japanese via special earpiece devices similar to the device pictured below.
 
Note: While the president did a good job of making it seem “free form” it was more structured than it appeared on the surface.
 

[mendeleyev]

Continued...
Note: My remarks/comments will be bracketed in italics (like this).
 
 
President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev:
Colleagues, First of all, I want to welcome you all. We have a lot of journalists today, more than 800 people, so I’ve been told. I am happy to see such interest in this press conference. Of course, I cannot complain that I don’t get enough chance to meet with the press. I speak with journalists regularly during my everyday work and during my visits to the regions too, and these visits were frequent both during my time in the Government, and now, as President.

Actually, there are only two regions in Russia that I have not visited yet, but I will visit them too very soon. I have already met with many journalists from the regions, and I see a few familiar faces here today, which is very nice. But for all this contact with the media, I have never yet held such a big press conference. The whole point of this big event, as I see it, is to exchange views on our country’s development and on international life and events.

Once more then, I thank you all for your interest in this event. I am sure that interesting questions await, and I hope my answers will prove of interest too. I am ready to start work now, so let’s begin with the questions.

I think this is the first ever press conference of this kind that the President is holding on his own, without the Presidential Executive Office’s help, (the Presidential Press Office, as normal, coordinated the event) and so I ask you not to be offended, but I will simply point my finger and say, “that man or woman in such and such a row”, and if I point at you, you just stand up and put your question. (See note above about pre-submitted questions.)

To get things started, I think it would be proper first to give the floor to our television colleagues. I noticed Sergei Brilyov here. Sergei, I visited with you just recently, and we had an interesting conversation…

Sergei Brilyov: Thank you, Mr. President.
I wanted to ask you about just how irreversible the modernization policy is. This press conference is taking place at Skolkovo. We all know now that Skolkovo is the modernization and innovation centre. It’s a good thing, and probably rather symbolic too, that Skolkovo is located beyond the Moscow Ring Road, beyond the ‘magic circle’, as it were. But Skolkovo also has its boundaries.

What I want to know then is how you view the depth of the modernization process, and its irreversible nature for the country as a whole over the period since your Go, Russia! article came out? 

President Medvedev: I don’t think we should look at modernization within some firmly fixed timeframe. I remember the time when we all counted how one year had passed since perestroika began, and then two years, three years, and we all know what happened in the end. 

Modernization is a process, a very important process, and I think its main goal is to give our country’s development a new quality. Modernization is not just a gradual development process that consolidates the achievements we have already made over this last decade, but is about bringing about quality improvement in the situation. I know for a fact that we have not achieved this goal yet, but this does not mean that we should now raise some new flag instead and launch a new wave of modernization or whatever other new campaign. (Here he is being critical of Prime Minister Putin’s recent announcement of alternate modernization plans which would exclude Skolkovo.)

True, we have not achieved any extraordinary results yet, but this is all the more reason for me and my colleagues in the Government to work even harder, day and night, in order to change our country’s life for the better.

I therefore stress the point that modernization has a huge part to play in our country’s development, and its goal is to bring about real change in the situation, rather than providing us with particular dates we can mark. But I am very happy to have the chance to discuss this here at Skolkovo, since this place holds special significance for me, because it is here that we are developing our new technology, here that we have established the Skolkovo university and the school [of management], and here that our innovation centre will be located.

I take this opportunity to thank everyone working here, including for hosting us today. We could have held this press conference at the Kremlin, but I think this is a more interesting venue.
 

[mendeleyev]

(Next came a question about sacking Prime Minister Vladimir Putin...)
 
Let’s take a question from Kseniya Kaminskaya from ITAR-TASS. I will name a few names to start with from among the familiar faces, but don’t worry; I won’t be giving the floor to people from the Kremlin press pool only.

Kseniya Kaminskaya, ITAR-TASS: Thank you all the same for the opportunity.
Mr. President, you have replaced a couple of dozen regional governors, but not a single minister. What is the reason for this? Is this a sign that things are worse in the regions than in the federal centre, and that you are really happier with the federal officials’ work than with that of the regional officials?

Could the Government’s or Prime Minister’s resignation be on the cards closer to the elections? This has happened in the past after all.

President Medvedev: Kseniya, I have replaced not just a couple of dozen governors; almost half the corps of regional governors has changed over my time in office so far. New people have come in. Some people stepped down of their own accord, in some cases the decision was mine, and in other cases governors simply came to the end of their mandates and were not appointed for a new term. All of this represents serious changes in the group of people responsible for running our country.

I think this is important because no one can stay in power forever. People who harbour such illusions usually come to a rather bad end, and the world has given us quite a few examples of late. This applies to the regional governors too. You cannot have one and the same person in power for 20 years, even if they are competent, well qualified, and know their region.

Such people are good of course, but we need to open the road to young people too, broaden and develop the human resource pool, and try to nurture a new generation of worthy successors. This policy of appointing new people will continue therefore, and I hope that it will ultimately bring to the fore in the regions modern-thinking people with a real desire to work. Of course, there is never guarantee against mistakes too.   

As for the federal government, the absence of new appointments there is not a sign that things are better at the federal level than in the regions, it’s just that every decision has its own basis. When we talk about the Government’s work, we are taking about the work of a whole team, and not just individual ministers, because the Government is a team and functions as such. You know that I criticize the Government quite often, tell them what I think, what I want, but at the same time, I think the Government operates as a coordinated team, a single body, and so it would not be wise to simply yank out individual links in this overall chain.   

Finally, the President has specific powers, including with regard to forming and dismissing the Government. I have neither changed nor renounced these powers.

Sergei Strakhov: Mr. President, I am Sergei Strakhov from Avtoradio, and I have a question about parking cars. This is really a big issue and a problem for all drivers in Moscow. The thing is, Moscow city officials recently decided that parking space on Moscow’s streets would cost 500 rubles an hour. What do you think of this initiative? And what can be done in general to sort out the parking problem in Moscow?

Oh, and one small question in addition: I know that your wife owns garage space for two cars, and you see I have nowhere to park my car. (Laughter in the audience). Maybe you could rent me out space in your garage?

President Medvedev: We all know about the parking problems in Moscow. The situation is bad indeed. This is partly the result of the way work was conducted over previous years. I understand the complaints of everyone in Moscow who can't find space to park their cars and spend hours queuing for a place, or stuck in traffic jams. As for what we need to do, we need to expand the possibilities, build new roads, and make rational decisions on traffic regulation. I hope the new mayor will tackle these issues.

500 rubles an hour for parking space is a mockery even for Moscow, where people are generally better off than in some of the other regions. I can see the logic behind this decision: it’s about intimidation – pay 500 rubles if you want to park your car and 1,000 if it’s some particularly important spot – and all with the hope that this will dissuade people from parking there. But I do not think this is an ideal solution. I hope the city will sort this problem out, and as far as I know, Mayor Sobyanin has already given the instruction to look into this matter, and said much the same thing as me about the rates that were set.

Now, as for your car... (Laughter). Let me think about how to make it a mutually beneficial deal. Yes, we do indeed have garage space for two cars, not currently in use, and so there is a chance, but as you rightly noted, this garage space belongs not to me, but to my wife, and I cannot make a decision without talking to her first. If she agrees, and the conditions you propose suit her, let’s look at the matter then.
 
 
(Finally, the moment came for "the question" on everyone's mind...)

Rosa Tsvetkova: I am Rosa Tsvetkova from Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Mr. President, I have to ask the question that I am sure is on everyone’s minds here. When will you put an end to the guessing games over the election? You have probably already made up your own mind after all.

And let me add one further question. Our country is known worldwide as an oil power, but why then are our petrol prices rising? The Government has promised to deal with the situation, but so far, no one has been blamed for the situation? Why is this?

President Medvedev: Ah, I was waiting for that question. (Laughter). I thought it would be the first question, but it came only fourth.

My friends, I read the various publications in the media in the run-up to this press conference, and I know that all of you, you here today, and many others too, are waiting to hear some interesting announcements. But you have to realize that political life is not just a show. In fact, it is not a show at all, but is a complex job that, as many others and I involved in political life see it, this has to follow certain rules and technical considerations.

We are involved in political work not for the sake of keeping warm and cozy, but in order to achieve results. Decisions of the kind you are talking about therefore must be made at the right moment; at the moment when all the right conditions are in place otherwise they risk backfiring politically.

I think too in this respect that no matter appealing and tempting a moment it might seem, a press conference of this kind is not the right occasion for such an announcement. I think decisions of this kind need to be taken and announced in a somewhat different format.

I think too that every politician should make this kind of announcement when he or she thinks necessary. The world has seen a huge number of politicians who declare, no sooner than one political campaign is over, that they will run for president in the next campaign, and more often than not, these promises and declarations come to naught. The only rational tactic is a tactic that will produce success.

No matter what people say that in such and such a country the announcements have already been made, while we here are silent for now, let me say again that all of this has to follow a rational scenario. Of course this silence cannot last forever. The whole election process sets its own rules of the game, and I will follow them too. If I make such a decision, I will certainly announce it. As I said not so long ago in an interview with the Chinese media, there is not long to wait now. You can expect an announcement soon.

Now, on the question of petrol prices, there is probably a link here between the decision to run for office and the petrol prices. You all realize that the petrol price increase is linked to the overall jump up in oil prices. The Government is indeed taking steps to keep things under control, but even its efforts are not enough to produce results. In some cases there are perhaps cartel deals going on, and I think this is very likely, but overall, the situation is more a reflection of the objective trends on the oil market.

You need to understand that our efforts to regulate the situation are not always successful, but the Government nevertheless does have full power to act, and I have instructed them to deal with this issue and take action to bring down prices for petrol and oil products. How? The answer is clear.Unfortunately, I cannot propose anything better than restrictive measures, and the Government has the power to impose such measures. By restrictive measures I mean the introduction of high export duties. This might be a temporary solution, but it does not solve the problem in the long term.

Oil prices are always a very important indicator for us, and I think that it is in Russia’s interests to have high prices, but not too high. Prices are climbing at the moment, but such high prices can actually lead to problems in the end. Remember how in 2008, prices reached $147 a barrel, and how did it all end? It ended in the global financial crisis. Of course this is no good, no good for us either. We will continue to address this issue, but it is a very complex problem. Any cartel deals on the market must be prevented, and such action is already being taken. 

[mendeleyev]

Footnotes:
 
President Medvedev treated the subject of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin with respect, saying that "My relationship with my colleague and political partner Vladimir Putin is more than a tandem. This is a relationship that has spanned more than 20 years. We think alike and have very close approaches to the key issues of the country’s development. Everyone has a right to his own attitudes and approaches, but we are close on strategy, otherwise we could not work with each other."
 
Some foreign reporters were curious about the Khodorkovsky case. Medvedev’s answered that, "As for Mikhail Khodorkovsky, his release would pose no public danger." 
 
In summation, Medvedev said that the recent years were hard for Russia because of  the financial crisis and unemployment but expressed his confidence that Russia was on track and could meet the future with success although he did admit that difficulties remained and Russia would need to pursue a new agenda to continue economic and democratic progress.
 
 
(Photos used in this report of President Medvedev and the Skolkovo Centre were from the Presidential Press Service.)
 

[mendeleyev]

So much going on yesterday but wanted to also point this out:
 
Interesting part of yesterday's Skolkovo press conference:
 
In acknowledging Channel One, President Medvedev briefly mentioned that he had watched reporter Anton Vernitsky's interesting interview earlier and asked if the story was true.
 
 Anton Vernitsky/Channel One: Well, he says it is.
 
 President Medvedev: The Americans will have something to tremble about then.
 
 What Vernitsky is speaking of is an interview he'd done earlier with a man claiming to be a former CIA agent who says that Osama bin Laden had died on 06 June 2006 and that the recent SEAL operation was a farce.
 
 http://www.biyokulule.com/view_content.php?articleid=3490
 
 
Vernitsky is the same journalists who claimed last month that his sources had uncovered a joint US-Turkish plan to carve Russia into pieces by financing Islamic terrorism on Russian soil.
 
http://www.jamestown.org/programs/chinabrief/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=4877&tx_ttnews[backPid]=195&no_cache=1

As you can see, Vernitsky likes the sensational side of journalism.