World | Dmitry Medvedev Medvedev: Putin's More Popular Than I Am Russian prime minister says he's no seat-warmer By Neal Colgrass Posted Sep 30, 2011 5:53 PM CDT Copied On Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is seen during a TV interview. (AP photo/RIA Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press service) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev insists he's no seat-warmer for Vladimir Putin, the BBC reports. In a Russian TV interview shot today, Medvedev says he's letting Prime Minister Putin run for president in the next election because Putin is more popular. "Prime Minister Putin is now unquestionably the most authoritative politician in our country," says Medvedev. "His rating is somewhat higher." Medvedev promises "a pivotal renewal of the government—a government consisting of new people" in December's parliamentary elections. A co-founder of the opposition People's Freedom Party has predicted "giant corruption" in Russian politics, but Medvedev disagrees: "The choice is made by the people, and these are not empty words—that's absolutely the way it is." Read These Next A former NFL Pro Bowler has died at age 36. The massive AWS failure exposed a big problem with the internet. Backlash for Trump nominee who said he has 'a Nazi streak.' A man ended up dead after trying to steal from Spirit Halloween. Report an error