As the recent elections in Chechnya and St Petersburg illustrated so graphically, he has intimidated or bought his way towards ensuring that his preferred candidates emerge as winners ofany vote.
Using the iPhones is a cost effective wayofensuring that students have the text books they need "at any time of day or night, wherever they are working", says the university.
At his departmental question session on 2 February 2010, he insisted that ensuring banks engaged in any risky trading had adequate capital was a more appropriate wayof maintaining financial stability.