365 days ago Dmitry Medvedev became President of Russia.
During his first presidential year, Russia's third President tried to address two problems: to remain true to the course set out by Russia's second President, Vladimir Putin, and to cultivate his own political style. So far, Mr Medvedev is succeeding on both tracks.
Mr Medvedev's first year as President was filled with highly intensive work, or, to borrow an expression from his predecessor, "he worked like a galley slave". Within 12 months, he made several hundred personnel reshuffles, amended the Constitution, initiated a series of large-scale domestic political projects, and travelled extensively around the world. According to the Presidential Executive Office, during the year, Mr Medvedev visited 26 countries (twice Germany and three times Kazakhstan), where he held 110 conversations and meetings. It may also be noted that no matter what plans Mr Medvedev made a year ago, time did a lot to change them: August saw a Russian-Georgian conflict erupt in South Ossetia, and since September Russia has been forced to grapple with the economic crisis.
One year as President has not damaged Dmitry Medvedev's rating: in April 2009, according to the Levada Centre, it stood at 68%. In March 2008 elections he received 70.2% of the vote.
New presidents are usually compared with their forerunners. For the time being the comparison does not fully favour Mr Medvedev.
If we recall the first year of Mr Putin as President, we will see that many of his steps remind Mr Medvedev's moves. During their first year both initiated serious changes to the country's political system. In May 2000, within days of inauguration, Mr Putin set up seven federal districts, appointed his envoys to them, and changed the procedure for forming the Federation Council, expelling regional leaders from membership. The reform immediately altered the balance of force between the federal centre and constituent entities of the Federation. In November 2008, Mr Medvedev in turn initiated a constitutional and a political reform, both of which, according to officials from his Executive Office, are called upon "to strengthen the political system". The reform is unlikely to make fundamental change, but it will benefit the United Russia party, headed by Mr Putin.
Regarding personnel changes, Mr Putin went one better on quality, despite some loss in quantity. On March 28, 2001, he made a massive reshuffle of leadership in security-related ministries. Mr Medvedev has not yet made comparable dismissals or appointments at the federal level.
In effect, the pattern of events during Mr Medvedev's presidential year was pre-destined in December 2007.
On the next day after his nomination for the presidency, Mr Medvedev spoke on television, proposing that "Vladimir Putin stay in the key executive post, that of Prime Minister". Mr Medvedev's motivation was that it was necessary "to keep alive a team formed by the incumbent President" and push on with the course "laid down in the late 1990s".
By pledging not to touch the team (of which he himself was a member) and to implement the policy (which he shaped with others), Mr Medvedev set limits to his own range of responsibilities. He was not to make decisions running counter to the existing policy nor make reshuffles harming the "team". Since the developments in South Ossetia and the global financial crisis were not found to be ground enough to alter the course, Mr Medvedev adjusted, rather than overhauled it.
It is apparent that the President finds most pleasure in deciding institutional matters. Mr Medvedev took over the presidency after serving as First Deputy Prime Minister responsible for priority national projects. His experience as a Cabinet member has served him well on his new job.
Political reform, a national plan for fighting corruption, and a personnel pool programme - these and other local political initiatives are priority national projects for state development. Mr Medvedev agrees that many of his measures will not have immediate results, but notes that their implementation is a must.
Mr Medvedev is actively seeking his political style. His best achievements so far have been in information technology. Mr Medvedev is an active Internet user: on the Kremlin website, which, according to Kommersant, will soon be given a new face, the President runs a video blog and has set up a Live Journal community.
However, he is equally enthusiastic in using his predecessor's experience, too. On March 28, 2009, when visiting Kubinka Air Base, Mr Medvedev made a training flight on a Su-34. It may be recalled that Mr Putin was fond of flying military craft.
Traditions remain traditions. A Russian president must like real men's pursuits.