One of Vladimir Putin’s first acts as Russia’s new (third term) President was to approve outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev as Prime Minister.

As promised, Putin made Medvedev his Prime Minister. The story goes back to when Medvedev stood for the Presidency because Putin could not do so according to Russian law. But it was always clear that this was going to happen.

In fact, in his tenure, Medvedev had made Putin his Prime Minister and last September, the two men announced that they would be swapping jobs if elected. Putin wasted no time and it adds fuel to the fire, in terms of rumours which alleged that Medvedev was nothing more than Putin’s puppet, with him pulling the strings behind the scenes.

The Russian parliament (Duma) had to formally approve the nomination, but the result was never in doubt since the Kremlin party holds a majority of the 450 seats.

Putin spoke to parliament yesterday and asked lawmakers to approve the man he described as an “experienced politician” who “sincerely loves his motherland”.

But the Russia of today is not the Russia that adored its Man’s man President for two terms. Putin had become somewhat of a pin-up as Russia embraced its outdoorsy President who came to symbolise nationalist power. But things have changed, especially in view of allegations that Putin’s party had rigged the last election.

People are on the street and they are protesting. Russia has the infrastructure necessary to deal with demonstrations and public dissent, but has Putin not yet learned his lesson? Just like Syria, Russia is sectarian and has ethnic differences. If people do eventually pick up arms against the Russian government, then even the mighty ‘beast from the East’ will have trouble keeping everything in check.

People are already out on the streets protesting, being arrested and also being beaten. It has now gone too far. Russia must either institute democratic reforms (real ones) or it will risk the same fate as other nations which have fractured and crumbled under people power.

What will Putin do if protesters continue to clash with riot police at the door of the Kremlin? Will he move to appease? Will he promise reforms? Or will he do what he is widely expected to do in crushing the protest movement?

Only time will tell.