Two Bears in One Den

When Unified Russia party annointed Dmitry Medvedev (whose last name derives from медведь, “bear”) the formal successor to Vladimir Putin, who then said he would gladly serve as prime minister under Medvedev, political observers were puzzled. As the Russian proverb has it, “два медведя в одной берлоге не уживутся” (”two bears won't survive in one den”). In other words, you can’t have two bosses.

Then again, as one smart commentator put it, Medvedev is just a медвежонок - a little bear (also, incidentally, slang for a small, fireproof safe), so he will peacefully cohabit the den with “momma bear” (матерый медведищe) Vladimir Putin, who will retain his position as the only top Russian politician to know where the honey is, so to speak (etymologically, медведь is just an inversion of ведмедь: ведает где мёд, i.e. “knows where the honey is”).

OK, so they will share a den, but what if Medvedev needs to hear a report from his Prime Minister? Such meetings under Putin were often televised. How will it look, now that the boss has become the bossed? Well, Medvedev, despite his name, is hardly as clumsy as a bear (неуклюжий как медведь). He has been around Putin for 17 years, so he's got an ear for things (in other words, "the bear didn't stomp on his ear" - ему медведь на ухо не наступил). He will surely find a formula to make sure the wolves are fed and the sheep are safe (и овцы целы, и волки сыты), and find his place in the Russian political forest, so to speak.

Apparently the Russian public agrees. The approval ratings for the преемник (heir apparent) are through the roof, and his медвежья фамилия (bear name) probably has something to do with it. First, you can't find a more Russian family name than Medvedev (well, except for Ivanov, of course). And, second, the bear is our favorite national animal. I know of only two negatively connotated bear idioms (aside from the clumsiness claim): медвежатник (slang for a burglar) and медвежья болезнь (diarhea caused by fear).

Third, the bear was the beloved mascot of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. Fourth, the bear is the only animal who has a direct first name equivalent in Russian: Mikhail (well, actually the diminutive Mishka, as on our chocolate candies, Мишка на Севере). Quite often at a Russian zoo, you can hear kids calling out tenderly to the bear, ”Мишка, Мишутка.” In fact, we have even given the bear a patronymic and a family name: Mikhail Potapovich Toptygin.

The bottom line is that the bear reflects the Russian national character. For just like bears, Russian are sometimes too patient and slow to react. But wake the русский медведь from its slumber or anger it and anything can happen (Otto von Bismark once famously advised against messing with the Russian bear).

Still, one can’t help wondering if Medvedev rendered himself a bear's favor (оказал себе медвежью услугу), i.e. shot himself in the foot, by agreeing to become  a somеwhat marionette (марионеточный) president? What will he do when his term expires in 2012 if the aging медведь Putin decides to take over (via elections, of course)?

Most likely, Medvedev won't be left to suck his paw (не будет лапу сосать), as a hibernating bear does when he runs out of food. That, needless to say, would be as if медведь в берлоге сдох (a bear died in his den) - a rare event indeed.