Experts believe that Medvedev used the interview not as an opportunity to tout his accomplishments as prime minister but to maintain and revitalize his image as a dynamic politician who is willing to speak on issues that go beyond his official responsibilities as prime minister.

       Last Friday, December 7, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev gave a live interview to five Russian TV channels simultaneously. Journalists asked him questions on an array of issues, including the pension system, the defense budget, education, healthcare, fines, recent corruption scandals and the much discussed end of the world. The discussion did not touch on Russia’s rising inflation, unemployment, economic stabilization measures, deteriorating infrastructure and crime.

       Experts believe that Medvedev used the interview not as an opportunity to tout his accomplishments as prime minister but to maintain and revitalize his image as a dynamic politician who is willing to speak on issues that go beyond his official responsibilities as prime minister.

       Sergei Brilyov, Deputy Director of Special News Projects at the Rossiya 1 television channel and the moderator of the December 7 interview, said “the conversation was useful because much of it dealt with issues that had not been discussed before. We concentrated on a major socioeconomic issue – pension reform. Medvedev gave perhaps his first clear explanation to the viewing public of why the reform was launched. Oddly, government officials had been unable until then to explain the gist of the reform succinctly.”

       Medvedev said the Government is not against the paid pension system as it continues to discuss modifications. “Given the current system of defined contribution, the distributive pensions of those who were born in 1966 are 15% larger than the pensions of those who were born in 1967 and after. So a pension with a defined contribution component is smaller than a purely unfunded pension. Why should people make these contributions then?” Medvedev said about the decision to change the pension formula.

       Alexei Mukhin, General Director of the Political Information Center, believes that “Medvedev acted as a cautious politician. On the one hand, he does not want to risk speaking out in the open, but on the other he is reluctant to stay out of the media.” Commenting on Medvedev’s statements about the recently revealed wrongdoing in the Defense Ministry, Mukhin emphasized that “Medvedev does not want to assume responsibility for the actions of other individuals, particularly the actions committed during his presidency, but at the same time he is trying to avoid betraying his own.”

       In general, Medvedev gave detailed answers, in his customary lawyerly style, smoothing rough edges and dodging provocative questions. “Medvedev adopted the strategy of floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee,” Mukhin said.

       That said he should have been more specific and clear on some current political, social and other issues. His attempt to smooth rough edges will make it more difficult for him to position himself close to Vladimir Putin and other politicians.

       Elliptical answers only lead to more questions, and Medvedev must be ready for this. “If he is unwilling to answer the questions, people will grow dissatisfied with him. He won’t gain anything from this. These kinds of interviews are image enhancers, but when the prime minister dodges questions, it could hurt his ratings,” Mukhin believes. “Most likely, Medvedev will give an even more detailed interview in the near future. I think his press office plans to conduct a whole series of such events,” he said.

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.