He assumed office with promises of cautious reforms, but critics now speculate that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's true agenda may be to hold the Kremlin seat until Vladimir Putin's return. Despite being almost halfway through his term, there is little proof that Medvedev is following through on pledges to reform Russia's political system, modernize its oil-dependent economy, tackle corruption, and uphold the rule of law. The recent local elections were criticized as the most corrupt in Russia's history, with NGOs and business leaders echoing these concerns. Regional leaders with close ties to the Kremlin accused of misconduct have been re-appointed, further fueling doubts about Medvedev's intentions. Reports of police and court power abuses are common. Vladimir Ryzhkov, a former independent deputy in the Russian parliament, criticized President Medvedev for not truly reforming despite making small cosmetic changes. The Kremlin stated they would provide detailed information on Medvedev's achievements in May, focusing on political system reforms, improving the investment climate, pacifying the North Caucasus, and negotiating a nuclear arms pact with Washington. An analysis by the Interfax news agency found that state-run media has attempted to enhance the president's reputation, with more references to Medvedev than Putin in Russian media last year. However, pollsters note that Putin's popularity among ordinary people has increased due to the economic prosperity and stability experienced during his presidency from 2000-2008. This popularity continues in his current role as prime minister, with Russia's elite also showing greater respect for Putin. Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov recently praised Putin as a "very strong leader of world stature" in a Reuters interview. He did not mention Medvedev, disappointing hopes among Western powers that Medvedev would be a more flexible partner than Putin. However, these hopes quickly faded when Medvedev led Russia into a conflict with Georgia in 2008. Last year, Moscow raised expectations of joining the World Trade Organisation, signing a nuclear arms reduction pact with the United States, and supporting tough sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program, only to fall short on all three. Officials say that Putin, not his superior Medvedev, had the final say in each of these decisions, revealing where power truly lies in Russia's ruling "tandem." Officials at the Kremlin and the White House (Putin's prime ministerial offices) publicly claim that the "tandem" is a strong and productive partnership between two equals who respect each other's areas of authority outlined in the constitution. For example, Medvedev recently held a meeting to discuss reforms to Russia's political system, which is heavily influenced by the Kremlin's United Russia bloc, leading some to compare it to the Soviet-era Communist Party. However, Putin had the final say, emphasizing the importance of carefully considering changes to the political system and avoiding any instability. According to a senior diplomat, Putin's message was straightforward: there will be no significant political changes in Russia. Investors are also aware of where the power is concentrated. When asked about the potential impact of Medvedev leaving on Russian markets, a chief strategist at a Moscow bank said it would have minimal effect. However, if the same question was posed about Putin leaving, the response was that it would cause chaos. However, the frequent discrepancies in public demeanor between Putin and Medvedev have caused some observers of Russia to speculate about disagreements between them, or even suggest that a power struggle could be happening within the elite. According to diplomats, supporters of Medvedev are particularly interested in spreading this message to enhance his image as a reformer. In this narrative, Medvedev's slow progress in implementing reforms is attributed to his cautious approach in order to avoid upsetting Putin. On the other hand, supporters of Putin argue that Medvedev will eventually take more decisive actions in the future. However, many individuals close to the centers of power dismiss these claims. Yulia Latynina, an opposition journalist, believes that there cannot be a true power struggle between Putin, who holds all the power, and Medvedev, who has none. Critics also argue that Medvedev, who has closely collaborated with Putin for 19 years, is unlikely to have a secret reform agenda. Experts predict that Putin will likely return to the presidency in 2012, taking advantage of a constitutional reform that extends the presidential term to six years. Putin, who is more popular and trusted than Medvedev, could potentially remain in office until 2024. "I have recently returned from a visit to the provinces, where the general belief is that Putin will return in 2012. This seems to be a popular opinion, and I personally agree with it. Putin has greater resources and support."