Say Cheese! Its Good For Democracy

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Russia has a new President, who smiles! The 42-year-old lawyer and loyal Kremlin aide, Dmitry Medvedev has spent almost half of his life in the company of his predecessor, Vladimir Putin. Western media has repeatedly dubbed him as a proxy or a puppet President. After all Putin still holds the Prime Minister's office in one of world's youngest democracies. But ever since I noticed Medvedev smile, I am rethinking about the future prospects of the new Russian President, who incidentally shares his name with a famous tennis player. During his eight years of rule in Russia, Putin carefully crafted a brand of politics that was symbolized by phrases like, 'Icy-' and ' Steely-'. The former communist state was increasingly described as an oligarchy ruled by a handful of ex-KGB agents who crushed all dissent with an iron-hand. Western media, enamored by the new wealth of Russia and its....