Russian PM, his Cabinet resign as Putin proposes sweeping constitutional changes

Russian Prime Minister Dmitri A Medvedev and his Cabinet resigned on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes that could extend his hold on power for many years.

In a statement issued by the Russian news agency Tass, Medvedev linked the unexpected resignations to an overhaul put forward earlier on Wednesday by Putin, New York Times reported.

Putin, who under current law must step down in 2024, proposed amending the Russian Constitution to expand the powers of Parliament and a body called the State Council, which currently carries little weight.

Putin and Medvedev had done something similar in 2008 allowing Putin to remain in charge. Medvedev was elected President. Putin became prime minister, though he remained the real power in the government, and he returned to the presidency in 2012, when Medvedev became the Prime Minister.