Some in the elite argue that, although Mr Medvedev lacks his own power base, he has the most important resource of all: the seal and signature of the president.

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Notably, the three customers were not present before her when she executed the notarizations and there is no indication that Leininger personally attempted to contact each of those individuals prior to affixing her seal and signature.

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Helping to seal the deal was Jean-Jacques Aillagon, onetime cultural affairs minister under Chirac and head of Paris' signature modern art venue, the Centre Pompidou.

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