Russian MPs on Thursday overwhelmingly backed President Vladimir Putin’s pick for the country’s new prime minister. After hearing Mikhail Mishustin lay out his aims lawmakers voted to approve his candidacy, with no MPs voting against him, although Communist MPs abstained. “The decision has been taken,” concluded speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.
The Russian president addressed lawmakers, ministers and other high-ranking officials on Wednesday, with this year’s address focusing mostly on domestic politics including social policy and the economy, but also proposals to amend the country’s basic law. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that the country’s government will be resigning. ...