The first official reaction of Washington to the yesterday’s statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the suggested candidacy of First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as a successor of President Putin, became public today. A White House press release says as quoted to White House Press-Secretary Dana Perino that it is s matter of the internal Russian politics.

In particular Ms.Perino said “ We'll let the internal Russian politics play out on that”. When asked if the US President ever met D. Medvedev at any, the Press-Secretary answered: “ I don't know. We'll check.”

Vladimir Putin backed the candidacy of First Vice-Premier Dmitry Medvedev as the next Russian President. The candidacy was suggested by four political parties – the United Russia, Agrarian Party, Civil Force and Just Russia, RIA Novosti reported.