United Russia Party congress in Moscow, Dmitri Medvedev making speech . United Russia congress that almost unanimously elected Medvedev as the party`s candidate for the presidential election. In a rare show of disunity in the pro-Putin party, a single delegate opposed Medvedev in the 478-1 vote. The identity of the dissenter was unknown because the vote was by secret ballot. `If Russian citizens express their confidence in Dmitry Medvedev and elect him president of the country, then I will be ready to head the government,` Putin told United Russia congress delegates.