By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declined Wednesday to say if he will run in the 2012 presidential elections despite speculation that the much-awaited decision would be announced at the president’s biggest news conference to date.
“Such decisions should be made at a time when the conditions are right and they can make a conclusive political impact,” Medvedev said.
Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have made clear that one of them will run in presidential elections March 11, 2012. They have promised to announce their mutual decision on the matter in the near future.
Medvedev said that politics was not a show and the final decision would not be made at a news conference.
“Politicians should be able to make these kinds of announcements when they consider the time is right,” he said.
“In this situation, we will not have to wait for a long time.”
“The election process is governed by certain rules, which I will follow,” Medvedev said. “If I decide to make such an announcement, I will make it.”
Medvedev, who succeeded Vladimir Putin as Russia’s president in 2008, has presented himself as the more liberal side of Russia’s ruling tandem.