The lavish building with its towers, greenhouses and small forests in a video that angered Russians is thought to belong to Prime Minister Medvedev, which he rejected.

The video was taken from a drone posted to YouTube by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2017. Navalny accused Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of having it, along with an Italian vineyard, many yachts, palaces and houses. House in countryside. One of the properties also has a duck breeding complex and many other water birds.

Navalny added that Medvedev once used his wife to use a private commercial aircraft of Bombardier, worth $ 50 million. "Who paid for these? Who does the plane belong to?", Navalny asked in the video. According to the opposition leader, the Russian Prime Minister has a life like a billionaire and accuses him of embezzling $ 1.2 billion.

The video attracted tens of millions of views, sparking protests in more than 80 cities across Russia, with some even carrying posters featuring ducks. The rage is thought to stem from a decline in the standard of living of Russians because of sanctions from the West.

Medvedev denied the allegations. The Kremlin also confirmed that Navalny's information was not worth attention because this person had a criminal record of fraud.

Medvedev, 55, grew up in St. Petersburg. Petersburg, the only child in the family whose father was a chemical engineer and a mother as a teacher, later changed her career to a tour guide. He studied law and was inspired by Anatoly Sobchak, his favorite professor and an advocate of reform.

In 1990, Sobchak became president of the city council. Petersburg, then named Leningrad, and invited Medvedev as advisor. This is the time Medvedev first met Putin, who is also a former student of Sobchak and is chair of the foreign affairs committee. They gradually become attached.

In 1991, Medvedev worked for Sobchak's election campaign, helping this law professor become the mayor of St. Petersburg, then joined Sobchak's team in the town hall. Putin was also appointed a powerful deputy of Sobchak.

After Sobchak lost his position in 1996 over allegations of corruption and abuse of power, Putin moved to Moscow to work for the Boris Yeltsin government and was appointed prime minister in 1999. In the same year, Putin became the acting general. after Yeltsin unexpectedly announced his resignation and appointed Medvedev to a senior position in the team.

Medvedev helped Putin run a successful election campaign in 2000. In the following years, he also played a key role in the Gazprom gas group, helping to reform and modernize this extremely important state-owned company. .

In 2005, Medvedev was appointed first deputy prime minister. After Putin's departure in 2008 due to a constitution stipulating that a president should not hold office for more than two consecutive terms, Medvedev became the successor of the Kremlin boss.

Some had hoped that Medvedev would escape Putin's "shadow" to run the country. However, he is credited with implementing Putin's ideas and paving the way for the Russian president to return to power in 2012.

According to Washington Post commentator Robyn Dixon, Medvedev has long been dominated by Putin, and has been underperforming. The promotion he earned was considered to be entirely dependent on his relationship with Putin. Observers say Putin is undoubtedly the real leader of Russia.

After returning to the presidency, Putin gained domestic support with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, while rebuilding Russian influence in the Middle East and many other regions. Medvedev, meanwhile, as prime minister, reeled from a series of Russian problems such as a stagnant economy, low wages and welfare, and prolonged corruption.

In 2016, during a visit to Crimea, Medvedev made a bad impression by dismissing complaints from the elderly that they could not live off their pensions. "Although you don't have the money, don't give up. Wish you all the best," he said before turning away.

The corruption allegations in 2017 were thought to have seriously damaged Medvedev's political career and many even predicted he would have to leave the government. After Putin was re-elected in 2018, Medvedev was once again appointed prime minister.

However, the situation has changed in the context of Putin's "post-presidential" strategy, supposedly beginning to take shape. Medvedev announced on television on January 15 that he and all government officials resigned in order to allow Putin to amend the constitution. The new position of Russian Prime Minister is vice chairman of the Security Council, which is the Putin agency.

Some commentators think this is a sign that Medvedev was "disgraced" by Putin. According to commentator Dixon, one of the reasons for Putin to replace Medvedev may be the concern that the Russian Prime Minister's low reputation will reduce his credibility. Recent polls show Putin's confidence level of 68-70%, much lower than 80% in the previous term.

After Medvedev's resignation, Putin thanked his "right-hand" for his career in government. "For my part, I want to thank you for all the work that has been done in our cooperation so far, and expressed satisfaction with the results," Putin told Medvedev.

"Not all policies are completely effective, but life is so," Putin added.