Medvedev proposes Putin for prime minister

The newly sworn-in Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, has sent a proposal to parliament to elect his predecessor Vladimir Putin as the country's new premier. Previously, Prime Minister Viktor Zubkhov formally tendered his and his cabinet's resignation. Medvedev proposes Putin for prime minister According to the Russian constitution, the president had two weeks to propose a candidate for the prime minister's post to the Duma – the lower house of parliament. Putin's party, United Russia, has a two-third majority in the state Duma. Earlier in the day Medvedev was inaugurated as Russia's third president since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Kremlin Palace ceremony was held in front of 2,400 invited guests. Medvedev, 42, won a landslide victory in the March elections. The inauguration will cap his sharp ascendance from obscurity. But while Putin handed over the reigns of power, his central role in the ceremony reflects the part he has to play in Russia's future. Putin, 55, was barred by the constitution to run for a third consecutive term in the March polls. However, analysts suggest he will remain a pivotal figure in Medvedev's administration after he assumes his new post of prime minister, possibly as early as Thursday. The inauguration ceremony is being held in the Kremlin's magnificent St. Andrew's Hall. It began with an honor guard bringing in the symbols of the presidential office. Putin then made a short speech, describing the handover of power as "a hugely important stage" for Russia. He also urged Medvedev to continue the policies he had been implementing for the last eight years, saying they proved to be "the correct ones". Medvedev then took an oath on the Russian constitution. The grand ceremony is the expression of a new confidence that oil- and gas-rich Russia now feels, correspondents say. An economic liberal, Medvedev has served Putin as first deputy prime minister, chairman of Gazprom - Russia's enormous state-run gas monopoly, campaign chief and chief of staff. But his working relationship with Putin goes back much further. A lawyer by training, in the 1990s Medvedev was an assistant professor at St. Petersburg State University, during which time he became an expert consultant for the city's mayor - one Vladimir Putin. And, analysts suggest, their partnership looks set to continue. The Kremlin's lack of tolerance for dissenters, the BBC says, was highlighted on Tuesday as police detained dozens of would-be protestors in advance of a planned rally by The Other Russia, an opposition group led by world chess champion Garry Kasparov. Dmitry Medvedev at his inauguration as new Russian president (Beta)

Medvedev proposes Putin for prime minister

According to the Russian constitution, the president had two weeks to propose a candidate for the prime minister's post to the Duma – the lower house of parliament.

Putin's party, United Russia, has a two-third majority in the state Duma.

Earlier in the day Medvedev was inaugurated as Russia's third president since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Kremlin Palace ceremony was held in front of 2,400 invited guests.

Medvedev, 42, won a landslide victory in the March elections. The inauguration will cap his sharp ascendance from obscurity.

But while Putin handed over the reigns of power, his central role in the ceremony reflects the part he has to play in Russia's future.

Putin, 55, was barred by the constitution to run for a third consecutive term in the March polls.

However, analysts suggest he will remain a pivotal figure in Medvedev's administration after he assumes his new post of prime minister, possibly as early as Thursday.

The inauguration ceremony is being held in the Kremlin's magnificent St. Andrew's Hall.

It began with an honor guard bringing in the symbols of the presidential office.

Putin then made a short speech, describing the handover of power as "a hugely important stage" for Russia.

He also urged Medvedev to continue the policies he had been implementing for the last eight years, saying they proved to be "the correct ones".

Medvedev then took an oath on the Russian constitution.

The grand ceremony is the expression of a new confidence that oil- and gas-rich Russia now feels, correspondents say.

An economic liberal, Medvedev has served Putin as first deputy prime minister, chairman of Gazprom - Russia's enormous state-run gas monopoly, campaign chief and chief of staff.

But his working relationship with Putin goes back much further.

A lawyer by training, in the 1990s Medvedev was an assistant professor at St. Petersburg State University, during which time he became an expert consultant for the city's mayor - one Vladimir Putin.

And, analysts suggest, their partnership looks set to continue.

The Kremlin's lack of tolerance for dissenters, the BBC says, was highlighted on Tuesday as police detained dozens of would-be protestors in advance of a planned rally by The Other Russia, an opposition group led by world chess champion Garry Kasparov.