Yes it is true. The russian presidential election will not change who is in control of Russia. Even after the election Vladimir Putin will still be in power because he will his suceeder Dmitry Medvedved as the Prime Minister. So, yes the russian presidential changing is a sham. Not that there's anything wrong with that... First of all Putin could arguably be the best Russian President of all time. He led Russia with a iron fist, demanding nothing than the best Russia could get out of everything giving Russia all the power and money they once lost. The one con of Putin's two terms as Russia's Tsar was he wasn't what americans normally look for in a president. He wasn't the good looks, loving, and charms kind of president. He ruled Russia with impenatrable eyes and the well known stare. Now that his vicousness has putten Russia on the top, Dmitry Medvedved has the qualities that russia will use to become international relations biggest new country while still having Putin basically controling russia. So sometimes shams are not so bad.