Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Politics

Dmitry Medvedev

Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is a Russian politician and lawyer who served as president of Russia from 2008 to 2012 and as prime minister from 2012 to 2020.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Dmitry Medvedev is a Russian politician and lawyer who served as president from 2008 to 2012 and prime minister from 2012 to 2020. Since 2020, he has been deputy chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Early life and education

Medvedev was born in Leningrad in 1965 and studied law at Leningrad State University, graduating in 1987. He completed postgraduate studies there in 1990 and earned a PhD in law.

Political career

He rose through Russian political circles and was elected President of Russia in 2008. After serving one term, he became Prime Minister in 2012, holding that office until 2020. He has been closely associated with Vladimir Putin and led the United Russia party.

Current role

Following the resignation of his cabinet in January 2020, Medvedev was appointed deputy chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. He remains a prominent figure in Russian politics and international affairs, relevant to Canada through Russia’s global role and sanctions policy.

In short

  • Served as President of Russia (2008–2012) and Prime Minister (2012–2020).
  • Currently Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.
  • Close political ally of Vladimir Putin.
  • Relevant to Canada through Russia’s role in international diplomacy and security.
Canadian angle

Medvedev is relevant to Canadian readers primarily through Russia’s role in international affairs, including relations with Canada, sanctions policy, security questions, and global diplomacy.

Quick questions

Who is Dmitry Medvedev?
Dmitry Medvedev is a Russian politician and lawyer who served as president of Russia from 2008 to 2012 and prime minister from 2012 to 2020.
When was Dmitry Medvedev born?
He was born on 14 September 1965 in Leningrad, then part of the Soviet Union.
What office does he hold now?
Since January 2020, Medvedev has served as deputy chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dmitry-Medvedev
    Supports: Birth date, identity as a Russian lawyer and politician, presidency from 2008 to 2012, and premiership from 2012 to 2020.
  2. President of Russia — http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/37/biography
    Supports: Birthplace, education, PhD in law, election as president in 2008, appointment as prime minister in 2012, and appointment as deputy chairman of the Security Council in 2020.
  3. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-15047827
    Supports: Biographical profile, close association with Vladimir Putin, legal background, and previous role as head of Gazprom.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Medvedev
    Supports: Cabinet resignation in January 2020 and general career chronology.