Today: Medvedev to run for President; Renault buys Avtovaz stake; more failed talks between Russia and the United States; European Court of Human Rights rules against Russia in activist case.

President Vladimir Putin has backed First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the chairman of Gazprom, as presidential candidate in the next elections after he was nominated by United Russia and three other parties (Fair Russia, the Agrarian Party and Civil Force). “I have known him very closely for more than 17 years and I completely and fully support this proposal,” Putin said.