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(The Russian Constitution allows the President no more than two terms in succession. This means that while Putin could not not run again in 2008, he can run again in 2012. The equivalent would be if our Constitution said that George Bush couldn't run again in 2008, but could run again in 2012.)
There has always been a question about whether Medvedev would step aside in 2012 and not oppose Putin's election in that year. This firing may be the first indication that the answer to that question is “Nyet”.