Russian communists flirt with Medvedev

By Gleb Bryanski

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's communist party denounced powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin while cautiously praising President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday as a man who had brought 'certain hopes' to the country.

Putin, who has ruled as "first among equals" with his hand- picked successor, was the chief focus of anger in communist marches on the anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution.

"Medvedev should not look back at Putin," said protester Yakub Saidullayev, who held a banner reading 'Putin is the main hurdle for the progress of Russia'.

"He should come out from Putin's shadow."

Thousands waving red flags and banners criticising corruption and poverty worsened by global economic crisis marched along Moscow's central thoroughfare towards the Kremlin amid heavy police presence.

The Communist Party of the Soviet Union ruled Russia for 74 years until its collapse after a failed hardline coup in 1991. The successor Russian party remains the best organised force and in polls usually scores second to the pro-Kremlin United Russia.

As in Soviet times, the general theme of banners and slogans at demonstrations is agreed in advance by the party leadership.

The "tandem" relationship between Putin and Medvedev has come under scrutiny for cracks that may signal growing instability in the vast country; but both men have said they are comfortable working with each other and will decide among themselves who will run for president in 2012.