Russia's government resigned in a shock announcement on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin proposed a series of constitutional reforms.
In a televised meeting with the Russian president, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the proposals would make significant changes to the country's balance of power and so "the government in its current form has resigned".
"We should provide the president of our country with the possibility to take all the necessary measures" to carry out the changes, Medvedev said.
"All further decisions will be taken by the president." Putin asked Medvedev, his longtime ally, to continue as head of government until