10 Things You Didn't Know About Dmitry Medvedev

Compiled by the U.S.News & World Report library staff

By Danielle Burton

1. Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, on Sept. 14, 1965. His father, Anatoly, was a physics professor. His mother, Yulia, taught Russian literature and language. Medvedev grew up an only child in a small apartment in a suburb of St. Petersburg.

2. Medvedev was baptized into the Russian Orthodox Church when he was 23.

3. He graduated from Leningrad State University with a Ph.D. in law in 1990. He worked odd jobs to earn money for his studies, including as a street cleaner and at a building site. After graduation, he stayed on at the university as an assistant law professor.

4. In the 1990s, Medvedev became involved in local politics. It was during this period that he met Vladimir Putin, when they both worked at the St. Petersburg City Hall.

5. Shortly after Putin was named prime minister in 1999, he brought Medvedev to Moscow to work with him. Over the years, Putin (who became president of Russia) has elevated Medvedev to a variety of posts, making him first deputy prime minister in November 2005.

6. In 2000, Medvedev became chairman of the board of Gazprom, the state-owned energy company. He still holds the position today (after a brief stint as deputy chairman in 2001 and 2002).

7. Medvedev met his wife, Svetlana, in seventh grade. The two married in 1989 and have one son, Ilya. Svetlana organizes art and fashion events and is a society figure.

8. Medvedev is a fan of such rock-and-roll groups as Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. In February 2008, Medvedev lived out a longtime dream when he attended a Deep Purple concert at the Kremlin.

9. Medvedev's favorite sport is swimming. He reportedly swims twice a day, nearly a mile each time.

10. Medvedev later this year is to succeed Putin as the next president of Russia, thanks in large part to Putin's endorsement. Putin will most likely remain involved in Russian politics as prime minister.

Sources:
BBC News
Biography Resource Center Online
Gazprom
The Moscow Times
Newsweek
The Sunday Telegraph (London)
The Washington Post