1987: Medvedev graduates from Law Faculty of Leningrad (since October 1991, St Petersburg) University, goes on to study for a doctorate and becomes a faculty member
Early 1990s: While continuing to work at the University, Medvedev is taken on as a Legal Consultant to the office of the Mayor, Anatoly Sobchak. Strikes up a close working and personal relationship with the First Deputy Mayor, Vladimir Putin.
1993-1999: Still working at the University, Medvedev becomes Legal Director of the rapidly-growing Ilim Pulp integrated forest products group.
Sept 1999: Following Putin's appointment by President Yeltsin as PM, Medvedev accepts his invitation to become Deputy Head of the Government Administration. When Putin's book is published about his career before becoming Prime Minister and Acting President, In the First Person, there are frequent references to Medvedev, frequently referring to him by the friendly form of his first name, 'Dima'.
Jan 2000: Within days of Putin becoming acting President (following Yeltsin's unexpected retirement on 31 Dec 1999), Medvedev is appointed First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration. Under the terms on which Putin took over as acting President, he was forced to accept certain Yeltsin appointees. He bided his time until:
Nov 2003: Medvedev takes over from Alexander Voloshin as Head of the Presidential Administration (Kremlin Chief of Staff).
2000-2001, and 2002-present: Medvedev is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Gazprom. This brings friction when Gazprom tries unsuccessfully to take over Rosneft in 2004, and also when Rosneft, not Gazprom, takes control of the main oil-producing asset of Yukos, Yuganskneftgaz. Tension between the two companies continues until an apparent modus vivendi is worked out in late 2006.
Sept 2005: Putin announces the Priority National Projects on Agriculture, Education, Health and Housing (with a fifth Project - on demography - being added in May 2006). Medvedev is made responsible for the day-to-day running of the Projects.
Nov 2005: Medvedev moves more into the limelight, leaving the Presidential Administration for the post of First Deputy Prime Minister. But he remains in charge of the National Projects, and starts to travel the length and breadth of the country to publicise them - and himself.
Dec 2006: Nationwide opinion poll puts Medvedev third in the list of best-known Russian public figures, up from between fortieth and fiftieth a year earlier. He tops all authoritative polls on voting intentions in a presidential election in which Putin was not a candidate.
Jan 2007: Leads the Russian delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
