Vladimir Putin's hand-picked successor as Russian president yesterday made clear his patron would remain a dominant political force by nominating him as the next prime minister.

Dmitry Medvedev said that, if elected, he would ask Mr Putin to take the post of prime minister as a way of ensuring continuity. "I find it extremely important for our country to keep Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in the most important position in executive power, in the post of chairman of the government of Russia."