Russia's new prime minister appointed

The move came just hours after Dmitry Medvedev and his government resigned in response to Putin's call for major constitutional changes.

Mousustin, 53, has been working in the Russian government since 1998.

He has held a low profile as chief of the Federation Tax Service, which has held since 2010.

Russian media report Putin has submitted Misustin's candidacy to parliament for approval.

On Wednesday, the Russian president, during his annual speech to the nation, called for major constitutional changes that would increase the powers of parliament before the end of his mandate in 2024.

In this context, we, like the Government of the Russian Federation, should provide the president of our country with the opportunity to make all necessary decisions. Under such conditions, I think the government of the Russian Federation has taken the right step in resigning”, Medvedev said, as he announced his resignation.

Putin, addressing the Federal Assembly, said that Russia's Constitution, 1993, should be changed to give State Wedding, which is the lower House of Parliament, the right to appoint ministers of the cabinet and prime minister.

These powers actually belong to the president.

Putin also said Russia should remain the powerful “presidential republic”.

The president must maintain the right to determine the government's tasks and priorities, as well as the right to dismiss the prime minister, its deputy and federal ministers, in the event of failure to perform tasks or loss of confidence”, Putin said.

He also said conditions to become president should be toughed and that any future president must have lived in Russia for at least 25 years and not have any foreign citizenship.

Putin, 67, has dominated Russian politics for two decades, serving as president sometimes as prime minister since 1999.

In 2018, he was elected president for a new six-year term.

With the current law, he will have to withdraw after the mandate ends.