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RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT RESIGNATION

Russian government resigns

Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev thinks it right to resign in the wake of proposals to amend the constitution

© Dmitry Astakhov/POOL/TASS

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/. The Russian government has resigned, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced.

President Vladimir Putin thanked Dmitry Medvedev’s government for its work. "For my part, I also want to thank you for everything that was done at this stage of our joint work, I want to express satisfaction with the results that have been achieved," the president told a meeting with the cabinet of ministers.

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Putin suggests plebiscite on proposed package of constitutional amendments

"Not everything was done, but everything never works out in full," Putin said.

The Russian leader noted that soon he planned to meet with all ministers of Medvedev’s government. "I will meet with each of you," Putin assured.

The prime minister thinks it right that the current government should step down in the wake of the presidential proposals to amend the constitution, Medvedev told President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the cabinet.

"We all watched the State of the Nation Address by President of the Russian Federation [Vladimir Putin]. Not only did Vladimir Vladimirovich outline significant priorities for our country in the coming year, but he also set out a variety of fundamental changes in the Constitution of the Russian Federation," Medvedev recalled. "After those amendments are adopted — and it was said that this is likely to be done following discussion — there will be significant changes not only to a variety of constitution articles, but to the balance of power, namely to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of power," the prime minister said.

"In this context, it is evident that we, as the government of the Russian Federation, should provide our country’s president with an opportunity to take all the necessary decisions in these conditions. I believe it right for the government of the Russian Federation to step down in conformity with Article 117 of Russia’s Constitution," Medvedev added.

Dmitry Medvedev has set a record in the newest history of Russia, as he has been prime minister for more than seven years and eight months (or 2,808 days since his appointment as prime minister on May 8, 2012).

The current government led by Medvedev was formed on May 18, 2018, comprised of ten deputy prime ministers (including one first deputy prime minister) and 22 ministries.

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