How Russia Works - An Assessment of the Medvedev-Putin System

This issue of the Russian Analytical Digest features a political assessment of the relationship between President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Tandemocracy is the term used to describe this relationship, whereby Putin and his close allies allegedly decided that he should remain in power even if he did not want to change the Constitution to give himself a third term as president. The analysis postulates that these arrangements continue to undermine formal institutions in Russia, allowing Putin to remain by far the most powerful player. Further, the issue examines how the Russian political system will be tested by the global economic crisis. Finally, it includes opinion polls on public perceptions of the power structure in Russia as well as level of trust in government institutions.