TODAY: Putin quits United Russia; positions Medvedev for the job.  The President promises reforms; opposition are ‘zeroes’ says Putin spokesman; Shein ceases hunger strike; education reform protest; anti-sex law; the failure of Russia’s anti- HIV campaign

President-elect Vladimir Putin has announced he will step down as chairman of the increasingly unpopular United Russia party, saying that the Russian president should be a ‘non-partisan figure.’  Current President Medvedev should take the helm, Putin has suggested.  Analysts tell Ria-Novosti why Medvedev and United Russia are ‘a poor fit’.  In a televised address, the soon-to-be Prime Minister has reiterated his alleged commitment to ‘the development of civil and economic freedoms‘.  Medvedev has pledged that proposed reforms for increasing political pluralism will strengthen the government, among them, the promise of direct gubernatorial elections.  This article points to evidence that the reforms will be less robust than promised.