Russia

MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/: After intense fighting with militants from the Jabhat al-Nusrah terrorist group (outlawed in Russia), the Syrian armed forces liberated two villages in the east of the Idlib governorate, the Sham FM radio station reported on Thursday.

Pro-government troops resumed their offensive in the region after militants disrupted the ceasefire declared five days ago.

MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/: Candidate for the position of Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin stated during a plenary session of the Russian State Duma on Thursday that Russia has sufficient funds to achieve all goals set by President Vladimir Putin.

"Due to macroeconomic stability and budget surplus, we have sufficient funds to implement all goals set by the president starting in January of this year," Mishustin said.

NOVO-OGARYOVO, January 16. /TASS/: Measures to enhance the role of parliament in Russia will not contradict the idea that Russia should remain a presidential republic, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with members of the working group commissioned to draft proposals for amendments to the Constitution.

He recalled that the amendments to the fundamental law he initiated in his Address to the Federal Assembly would enhance the responsibility of the parliament and government.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree appointing Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister, shortly after the former head of the tax service won the backing of parliament.

Mishustin’s elevation is part of a sweeping shake-up of the political system announced by Putin on Wednesday, which led to the resignation of Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister along with his government.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian parliament overwhelmingly backed President Vladimir Putin’s surprise choice for prime minister on Thursday after what one daily called a “January revolution”, a major political overhaul that some say could set Putin up as leader for life.

The State Duma, the lower house of parliament, gave its backing to Mikhail Mishustin, a 53-year-old with almost no political profile, endorsing his nomination with 383 votes of 424 cast. Nobody voted against him; there were 41 abstentions.

MOSCOW, Russia, Jan 16 (NNN-RIA NOVOSTI) – The Russian government resigned yesterday (Wednesday), Russian news agencies reported, quoting Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev.

The decision was announced after President Vladimir Putin addressed the Federal Assembly.

Putin outlined in his annual address to the Federal Assembly, a series of fundamental changes, Medvedev was quoted as saying.

MOSCOW, January 15 (NNN-TASS) — Five permanent members of the UN Security Council should set an example to eliminate threats of new wars, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly (parliament) on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed Dmitry Medvedev’s outgoing government to perform its duties until a new Cabinet is formed.

"I ask you to fully perform your duties until a new government is formed," Putin said at a meeting with the Cabinet.

According to Article 111 of Russia’s Constitution, the nomination of a new prime minister is submitted no later than two weeks after the Cabinet’s resignation.

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/: Russian president should retain the right to sack the country’s prime minister and federal ministers, while Russia should remain a strong presidential republic, President Vladimir Putin said in his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly.

"Russia should remain a strong presidential republic, and therefore the president should certainly keep the right to outline tasks and priorities of the government’s activity as well as to sack the chairman of the government, his deputies and federal ministers," Putin said.

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/: Russia has been able for the first time in history to become the world’s leader in advanced weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on Wednesday.

"We are not threatening anyone and are not seeking to impose our will. At the same time, I can assure everyone that our steps for strengthening national security were made timely and in a sufficient amount," the Russian president said.

Today Russia is the world’s leader in developing advanced weaponry, Putin stressed.