Russian Government <br />Resigns as Putin Proposes <br />Power Extension The extraordinary resignation of <br />the entire Russian government was <br />announced by Russian Prime Minister <br />Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday. Medvedev will <br />also resign. The move comes in response to <br />proposed constitutional amendments <br />by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The amendments would diminish <br />the powers of the presidency <br />while strengthening the powers <br />of parliament and the prime minister. If Putin was to re-assume the role of prime <br />minister once his term as president has ended, <br />the amendments could help Putin to extend <br />his already decades-long rule over Russia. Putin employed a similar <br />strategy in 2008 by swapping <br />roles from prime minister to president. His presidential <br />term ends in 2024. In his televised statement, <br />Prime Minister Medvedev stated <br />the government was resigning to <br />make room for the sweeping changes. Putin has already nominated a <br />replacement for prime minister, <br />Federal Taxation Service <br />head Mikhail Mishustin. President Vladimir Putin, via CNN
