Svetlana Linnik was born into a military family in Kronstadt, a town administered by Leningrad on 15 March 1965. Medvedeva was the youngest child in her family.
Medvedeva was active in extracurricular activities in school, and took an active part in school-held KVNs, spectacles, performances and other events. Medvedeva met her future husband in Middle School #305, in Kupchino [ru], near Leningrad.[1]
After the couple moved to Moscow, Medvedeva directed several Russian-Italian initiatives, Sister cities Milan – Saint Petersburg and Venice – Saint Petersburg, which intended to develop tourism between these cities.[1] In 2006, Medvedeva initiated the annual Russian Art Festival in Bari, Italy.[2]
Medvedeva became First Lady when her husband, Dmitry Medvedev, took over as president following his victory in Russian Presidential elections on 7 May 2008. In the same year, Medvedeva headed the initiative for the institution of Family Day in Russia. Medvedeva has already caused something of a media frenzy, even though she shies away from photographers and rarely gives interviews.[3] Medvedeva currently chairs the management council of multi-tier program Spiritual and moral culture of younger generation of Russia created with blessing of Alexy II of Moscow.[4] In an interview, Medvedeva detailed her views on the interaction between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Government of Russia in promoting family policies.[5] Medvedeva has taken up an anti-abortion cause in Russia's efforts to restrict abortion in 2011.[6]
