Dmitry Medvedev was confirmed as Russia’s prime minister during Wednesday’s parliamentary session, in which he highlighted economic reforms and tried, gamely but unsuccessfully, to keep president Vladimir Putin, his political mentor, from stealing the show.

Mr Putin named Mr Medvedev for the job following his inauguration on Monday as part of a political deal, cemented last year, in which the two men agreed to swap roles.

Seated to Mr Medvedev's left at the hearing, Mr Putin made it clear he was back in charge – he introduced Mr Medvedev to deputies, calling him “my choice” for the prime ministership. Then, following a barrage of hostile questions from deputies addressed to Mr Medvedev, the president fielded them one by one, at one point scolding the Duma deputies and saying: “I think my colleague Dmitry Anatolievich [Medvedev] is aware of all these issues.”