President Dmitry Medvedev spoke disparagingly about opposition politicians, defended disputed national elections and applauded his 14-year-old son’s taste in alternative rock during an interview with Russia’s three main television channels.
Medvedev looked visibly relaxed during the 80-minute interview, the last installment in a yearlong series of interviews on national television and titled “The Results of the Year.” But instead of meeting with journalists, Medvedev took questions from the directors of the channels, Konstantin Ernst of Channel One, Oleg Dobrodeyev of VGTRK, which runs Rossia, and Vladimir Kulistikov of NTV.
Dressed in his usual dark-blue suit, broad bright-blue tie and blue shirt, Medvedev occasionally seemed to page from his mentor Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, offering the occasional crude phrase and cracking jokes.
Ernst asked Medvedev what role opposition leaders like former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and former chess champion Garry Kasparov, whose efforts to register political parties have repeatedly been denied by the authorities, play in Russia’s political life.
“I guess they reflect somebody’s preferences, although I hesitate to say whose they are,” Medvedev said.
He added that he respected the opposition and does not want to attack anyone.
Medvedev reiterated that national elections on Oct. 11, which United Russia won in a landslide, were not “sterile.” Opposition politicians and independent vote observers have called the elections the dirtiest in recent Russian history.
Unlike Putin’s recent call-in show, Medvedev was asked no questions about his plans for the 2012 presidential election and the fate of jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. He spoke generally, without providing figures.
When asked about Putin, Medvedev said his relationship with the former president was “friendly” and had not changed over the past year. He also praised U.S. President Barack Obama as a “strong politician and an interesting person.”
The final questions covered Medvedev’s daily schedule and his family, a subject rarely discussed by Putin.
Medvedev said his son, Ilya, who never appears in public, enjoys listening to alternative rock groups like United States’ Linkin Park and Russia’s Splin.
“Like many young people — he is now 14 — he’s a fan of so-called alternative rock,” Medvedev said. “I don’t know much about it, but I know a few bands and even listen to them sometimes, including Linkin Park.”
He complained that he goes to bed late, usually after 2 a.m., but said he manages to find about 20 minutes every day to read books by Russian science fiction author Viktor Pelevin and Erich Maria Remarque, the German writer best known for his anti-war novel “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.