Dmitry Medvedev's 2008 election marked Russia's first transfer of presidential power since Putin took office, amid international concerns over electoral fairness.
Key Facts
- Election date
- 2 March 2008
- Winner
- Dmitry Medvedev
- Vote share (Medvedev)
- 71%
- Runner-up
- Gennady Zyuganov (Communist Party)
- Term length
- Four years
- OSCE monitoring
- Refused due to severe restrictions on observers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Vladimir Putin, having served two consecutive presidential terms, was constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term. He chose to support Dmitry Medvedev as his successor, backed by United Russia and four other parties, while remaining a dominant political figure.
On 2 March 2008, Russia held a presidential election in which Dmitry Medvedev won approximately 71% of the vote, defeating Communist Party candidate Gennady Zyuganov and Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky. International monitors disputed the election's fairness, and PACE declared it neither free nor fair.
Medvedev assumed the Russian presidency, with Putin subsequently becoming Prime Minister, sustaining Putin's influence over Russian governance. The OSCE's refusal to monitor the election and PACE's critical assessment heightened international scrutiny of Russia's democratic processes.
Political Outcome
Dmitry Medvedev elected president with 71% of the vote; election disputed by international monitors as neither free nor fair.
Vladimir Putin as President of Russia
Dmitry Medvedev as President; Vladimir Putin as Prime Minister