Medvedev, 42, was nominated to run by the ruling United Russia and other pro-Kremlin parties and his candidacy was endorsed by President Vladimir Putin. Given Putin's popularity, the endorsement is likely to guarantee his longtime ally and fellow St. Petersburg native the presidency.
"As far as I am aware, any person who becomes head of state has no legal right to retain such a privilege," said Medvedev, who has occupied the post since 2000 in the natural gas monopoly, which supplies Europe with 25% of its gas needs. Medvedev made no comment on a possible replacement.
Speaking to reporters after filing registration documents with the Central Election Commission, Medvedev said he would not take a vacation in the run-up to the election or change his timetable. He said he would continue dealing with the national welfare program.
He said the Kremlin's chief of staff, Sergei Sobyanin, would run his election campaign.
"The campaign headquarters will be headed by [Kremlin] administration chief Sergei Sobyanin, who will by law have to take a vacation after certain procedures are completed," Medvedev said.
Sobyanin, 49, who is also board chairman of the state nuclear power company Tvel, was named head of the presidential administration in June 2006, replacing Medvedev. Some Kremlin observers then suggested the appointment of Sobyanin, then governor of the Urals Tyumen region, was made in order to rally regional leaders around Medvedev as Putin's successor.
A recent opinion survey conducted by the state pollster VTsIOM showed that 45% of respondents backed Medvedev as a future president. Some Russian media have already begun referring to Medvedev as "Russia's future president."
Foreign analysts have said Medvedev was not the worst option given his reputation of a moderate reformer in the Kremlin in contrast to other, more hawkish, figures earlier mentioned as potential successors.
Last week, Medvedev proposed that Putin be appointed prime minister after the polls, and the incumbent president accepted the offer.
