Well, actually, it’s both. But timing, delivery and inflection can make a huge difference.

Here we have Dmitry Medvedev, once officially President of the Russian Federation (2008-2012) while Vladimir Putin pulled the strings from the office of the Prime Minister during the constitutionally-required waiting period before he could resume the presidency for several more extended terms . . . Well, it’s complicated. Suffice it to say, Medvedev played the role beautifully, acting as the calm, reasonable, almost democratic foil to the more bombastic, authoritarian Putin.

Then, by pre-arrangement, in 2012 they switched places again when Putin was elected — not for another four years — but for six, in accordance with a constitutional amendment he had rammed through the Russian Parliament.

And Medvedev was right there with him, serving as Prime Minister for
the next eight years, until 2020 . . .

. . . when for some unexplained reason, he was shifted to his current role of Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

If that seems like a demotion, don’t be fooled — it isn’t. The Chairman of the Security Council is Vladimir Putin himself, making Medvedev effectively Putin’s No. 1 right-hand security guy. And he has been taking full advantage of his position, making himself heard — loud and clear — at every opportunity. And what we are hearing is anger, and hatred, and vengefulness.

His is the dominant voice warning of a Russian nuclear response to any perceived threat from the West. And most recently, he threatened that such a response — in the event of Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike deep within Russian territory — would have “irreversible consequences.”

Dmitry Medvedev has evolved over the past two dozen years from Mr. Nice Guy to The Face of Armageddon: the man who would love to push the button to begin the ultimate meltdown. How did that happen? Was it the result of years of association with Putin and his inner circle? Or is this the real Medvedev, previously cloaked in a patina of reason and gentility, only now permitted by circumstances to reveal his true self?

Whatever the answer, this “new” Medvedev is clearly not on Santa’s “nice” list. I foresee a lump of coal in his Christmas stocking.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/17/24