Russia's VVIP protection service has surrendered the website it registered in its name sparking speculations of the official launch of campaign for the return of Vladimir Putin to top Kremlin job in 2012, a move which has virtually made Dmitry Medvedev a 'lame duck' president.

"The Federal Protection Service (FSO) is recalling its applications for registration of nine websites in the .rf Cyrillic domain, which could be seen as part of an election campaign," Interfax reported quoting FSO spokesman Sergei Devyatov.

Earlier several Russian newswires had reported that FSO responsible for the VVIP security has registered in its name the website 'putin2012.rf' in the Russian Cyrillic domain, while the site 'medvedev2012.rf' was still available.

He said nine websites have been surrendered after detailed analysis. RIA Novosti confirmed that Russian language 'putin.rf' has been now vacated by FSO.

FSO, which once was part of the Soviet KGB, obviously did not act on its own and this move has virtually made Medvedev a 'lame duck' president, specially at the time when he is involved in a row with Putin's political ally and powerful mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov.

Devyatov said the FSO's special communications and information service ensures the functioning of government websites.

"It had registered 400 domain names in the Cyrillic .rf Internet zone at the requests from the Presidential Administration, Government and other federal agencies," Devyatov said.

Earlier at his meeting with Valdai Forum of prominent western experts on Russia Putin had reminded that Roosevelt had been the US President four times.

Ex-KGB spy Putin had vacated the top Kremlin job in May 2008 due to constitutional limit of two consecutive terms to his chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev, a political weakling at that time.

However, nothing stops him from seeking re-election in 2012 for six year term. Putin's recent activities, including during the summer wildfires and his 2,500 long car travel by Russian Lada car across the remote far eastern areas, clearly remind of a campaign.