Dmitry Medvedev, born September 14, 1965, in Leningrad, served as President of Russia from 2008 to 2012 and Prime Minister from 2012 to 2020. He holds a law degree and PhD from Leningrad State University and worked closely with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg city government before rising through Kremlin roles.
In December 2012 off-air remarks after a television interview, Medvedev described secret presidential briefings on extraterrestrials. The comments, referencing the film Men in Black, were widely reported as humorous but repeated in UFO discussions.
- Elected President of Russia March 2, 2008; served until May 7, 2012.
- Served as Prime Minister of Russia May 8, 2012, to January 2020.
- Appointed Deputy Chairman of the Security Council January 16, 2020.
- Made the alien briefing comments December 7, 2012, in off-air footage released later that month.
- Chairman of Gazprom board 2000–2001 and 2002–2008.
- RussiaBorn and lifelong citizen
- President of Russia2008–2012
- Prime Minister of Russia2012–2020
- Security Council of the Russian FederationDeputy Chairman since 2020
- GazpromChairman of the Board 2000–2008
- United RussiaParty chairman
Background
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev was born on September 14, 1965, in Leningrad to a family of professors. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at Leningrad State University in 1987 and completed postgraduate studies there in 1990, earning a PhD in law. He began teaching at the university while also working in legal advisory roles for local government.
In the early 1990s Medvedev joined the administration of St. Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak. There he collaborated with Vladimir Putin on legal and external affairs matters. After Sobchak lost office in 1996, Medvedev returned briefly to academic work before Putin’s rise brought him back into national politics.
Following Putin’s election as president in 2000, Medvedev was appointed deputy chief of staff and later first deputy chief of staff in the Presidential Executive Office. He also served multiple terms as chairman of the board of directors at state-owned Gazprom from 2000 onward. In 2005 he became first deputy prime minister.
Medvedev was nominated by Putin as the United Russia candidate and won the March 2008 presidential election with about 70 percent of the vote. He was inaugurated on May 7, 2008, and served one term until 2012, during which he maintained close coordination with Putin as prime minister.
After Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, Medvedev became prime minister, a post he held until January 2020. He also led the United Russia party. During this period he focused on domestic policy and economic issues while remaining a senior figure in the ruling structure.
On December 7, 2012, after a televised interview with several Russian networks, Medvedev answered an off-air question about extraterrestrial files. He described a top-secret folder given to presidents alongside the nuclear briefcase that contained information on aliens visiting Earth and a secret service report on their control within Russia.
Medvedev added that more details could be found in the film Men in Black and declined to specify how many aliens might be present to avoid panic. The remarks were captured on video and circulated widely online; multiple outlets described them as a joke consistent with his known humor.
In January 2020 Medvedev was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, a position he continues to hold. He remains active in public commentary on security and foreign policy matters.
Where They Are Now
As of October 25, 2026, Dmitry Medvedev serves as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and chairman of the United Russia party. He issues regular public statements on Russian security policy and international affairs through official channels and Telegram.
Last updated 25 October 2026