By Christian Lowe
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian voters will hand Dmitry Medvedevvictory in a one-sided presidential election on Sunday, achoice that should ensure his mentor President Vladimir Putinstays on as the power behind the throne.
The Kremlin's opponents say voters have been denied a realchoice because the biggest television stations slant theircoverage in Medvedev's favour while election officials havebarred some opposition challengers from running.
But the country is enjoying its longest economic boom in ageneration -- fuelled by record prices for oil and gas -- andmost people see the double act of Putin and Medvedev as thebest hope of prolonging their new-found prosperity.
"If I am entrusted with leading the state I will simply beobliged to continue the policies ... of President VladimirVladimirovich Putin," Medvedev said. "I hope if we continue towork in this format, as a pair, it will benefit our country."
Putin is constitutionally barred from running for a thirdconsecutive term. He endorsed Medvedev to replace him and hassaid he is ready to serve next as prime minister.
Most observers say that means the centre of power willshift from the Kremlin to Putin's new office in the White Housegovernment headquarters, a short trip down the Moskva river.
Eyewitnesses told Reuters the lavatories on the WhiteHouse's fifth floor, where the prime minister has his office,are already being refurbished.
"Putin is going to remain the main guy," said Chris Weafer,chief strategist with Uralsib bank.
Some investors have called the arrangement a "dream team"-- not least because it reduces the chances of a messy fightbetween rival Kremlin clans over assets such as gas giantGazprom and state-owned oil firm Rosneft.
HONEYMOON FOR HOW LONG?
Medvedev will become president of a vast country that hasre-emerged as a force on the world stage.
Russia is the world's second biggest oil exporter afterSaudi Arabia, it is pouring money into military hardware and itis once again challenging the West on issues from Kosovo toWashington's plan for a missile shield in Europe.
A softly-spoken lawyer with a gentler style than ex-KGB spyPutin, Medvedev nevertheless shows every sign of continuingPutin's assertive policies.
But there are problems on the horizon: inflation threatensto spin out of control, the budget is vulnerable to a drop inoil prices and Kremlin-watchers say the honeymoon between Putinand Medvedev could turn sour.
"There will be a certain shake up of control and there willbe a lot of unhappy people who will try to obstruct that. Thatis the main threat. That is the threat from Putin's entourageitself," said Georgy Satarov, a former presidential adviser.
The election itself has been short on drama. Medvedev, whoat 42 will be the youngest Russian leader since Tsar NicholasII, has over 70 percent support in opinion polls, about fivetimes more than his nearest rival.
Medvedev refused to take part in televised electiondebates, citing a lack of time. He did not need the exposure:he already has the powerful state machinery behind him.
A minister this month ended a speech at a governmentmeeting with the words: "Forward, Russia" -- Medvedev'scampaign slogan.
Most Western election observers are not monitoring thevote, citing obstruction by the authorities. The handful thatare coming say the election is devoid of real choice.
Former world chess champion and Kremlin opponent GarryKasparov plans street protests the day after the election,though only a minority of Russians sympathise with his cause.
"Western media have to stop using words like campaign andelection," he said. "You are misleading your public. In Russia,instead, we are talking about a farce."
"We think it's necessary to show the authorities that we'reprepared to stand up to their plans to destroy democracy."
-- For more on the Russian presidential election, read ourblog "Operation Successor" at http://blogs.reuters.com/russia
(Additional reporting by Darya Korsunskaya, Conor Sweeneyand James Kilner; Writing by Christian Lowe; editing byElizabeth Piper)
