Russian Government Resigns After Putin Announces Constitutional Changes

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (L) and President Vladimir Putin walk after the president delivered his annual state of the nation address in the Kremlin in Moscow on Dec. 1, 2016. Dmitry Astakhov/ Sputnik, Government Press Service Pool photo via AP

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Jan. 15 that he’s submitted his resignation to President Vladimir Putin to give the president room to make changes to the constitution.

In a statement carried by the state-backed TASS News Agency, Medvedev said his government should step down in the wake of Putin’s proposals to change the constitution. Putin’s speech and Medvedev’s announcement were also carried via Russian television stations.