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“Thanks to everyone who takes interest in the work of the government. Your opinion is very important to me and my team,” Prime Minister Medvedev wrote in a recent Facebook post. In a short video address the PM posted on his Facebook – with one million ‘likes’ shown as the background – Medvedev said it is important the government maintain a presence on social networks. During his presidency, Medvedev pioneered the idea of “Internet government” as a way of encouraging “true democracy” in Russia. “We can get a quick response to any of our decisions or actions – and we actually do receive it. We can listen to your remarks and wishes, discuss something. We always tried to do it that way, but with the social networks in place it has become much easier – and also more difficult, because comments are so numerous,” Medvedev said. “I do personally check out your comments and try to reply to some of them – when I have time. So please do write [to us], speak out, share your observations: we’ve got to help each other to keep the track of events,” he added. Medvedev is known for his love of gadgets and new media: He maintains accounts on Facebook and Twitter, and also on both of Russia’s biggest social networks, VKontakte (‘in contact’) and Odnoklassniki (‘classmates’). In October 2012, Medvedev welcomed Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to his governmental residence in Gorki near Moscow. The American guest presented Medvedev with a white t-shirt emblazoned with the address of Medvedev’s Facebook page. The Russian PM – and former president – has still some way to go: the Facebook page of US President Barack Obama boasts more than 35 million likes. Russian President Vladimir Putin has never expressed a particular interest in social networks, though there are other politicians in Moscow working to forge closer ties with the electorate through the web.  … Read More