Russia's Putin accepts government resignation, asks ministers to stay as caretaker set-up

MOSCOW: The Russian government has resigned after President Vladimir Putin's State of the Nation address, Prime Minister Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev announced on Wednesday.

President Putin has accepted the resignation and asked the government to stay as caretaker set-up until a new one is formed. According to the Russian news organisation, RT, he had suggested some changes to the constitution during his State of the Nation address.

Medvedev added that the proposals would lead to significant revisions in the country's balance of power and, therefore, "the government in its current form has resigned".

“In this context, it is obvious that, as the government, we must provide the president with a capability to make all decisions” needed to execute the proposed plan, he said.

He said he planned to introduce a new position — deputy secretary of Russia’s security council — and offer it to Medvedev.