Putin proposes Medvedev as Russian prime minister

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Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister after the cabinet stepped down on Monday, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Medvedev signed a decree on the government's resignation after the president assumed office for a new term in accordance with the Russian Constitution.

Medvedev, 52, served as prime minister from 2012 to 2018 and was the third president of Russia from 2008 to 2012.

Unveiling his nominees for the top posts in the new cabinet, Medvedev stuck mostly with familiar faces, including retaining Anton Siluanov as finance minister.

However, deputy prime ministers Arkady Dvorkovich and Igor Shuvalov did not keep their jobs. They had positioned themselves as champions of private business, though with limited success in an economy dominated by the state.

Vitaly Mutko, who oversaw sport at a time when Russia was accused of a state-sponsored program of doping, lost his sports brief, but kept his deputy prime minister's post and will oversee construction.

(With input from Reuters)