Nezavisimaya Gazeta released its infamous list of the “100 Leading Political Figures” for 2009.  Putin, of course, leads with Medvedev not very far behind.  Surprisingly, third place went to Aleksei Kudrin – quite the liberal by Russian standards – which is probably NG‘s recognition of changes in the political climate wrought by the crisis, ascension of Medvedevites, etc.  Here’s the top 20 with their average scores, titles, and links to bios (in English when available):

1. Putin, Vladimir Vladimirovich (9.3) – Prime Minister
2. Medvedev, Dmitry Anatolevich (9.14) – President
3. Kudrin, Aleksei Leonidovich (7.27) – Minister of Finance
4. Surkov, Vladislav Yurevich (7.2) – First Deputy Chief of Staff, Presidential Administration
5. Sechin, Igor Ivanovich (7.09) – Deputy Prime Minister
6. Kirill (6.53) – Patriarch of Moscow and all ‘Rus’
7. Sobyanin, Sergei Semenovich (6.38) – Deputy Prime Minister
8. Shuvalov, Igor Ivanovich (6.34) – First Deputy Prime Minister
9. Naryshkin, Sergei Evgenevich (6.21) – Head of Presidential Administration
10. Miller, Aleksei Borisovich (5.65) – Chairman of Gazprom
11. Golikova, Tatyana Alekseevna (5.6) – Minister of Health and Social Development
12. Lavrov, Sergei Viktorovich (5.57) – Minister of Foreign Affairs
13. Gryzlov, Boris Vyacheslavovich (5.54) – Chairman of State Duma
14. Dvorkovich, Arkady Vladimirovich (5.53) – Assistant to the President
15. Serdyukov, Anatoliy Eduardovich (5.43) – Minister of Defense
16. Nabiullina, Elvira Sakhipzadovna (5.23) – Minister of Trade and Economic Development
17. Nurgaliev, Rashid Gumarovich (5.15) – Minister of the Interior
18. Chemezov, Sergei Viktorovich (5.14) – General Dir. of RosTekhnologiya
19. Bortnikov, Aleksandr Vasilevich (5.07) – Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB)
20. Ignatev, Sergei Mikhailovich (5.02) – Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia