Putin appoints former tax chief as new Russian PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Federal Tax Service chief Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow on Jan. 15, 2020. (Kremlin photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday to appoint the former head of the Russian Federal Tax Service Mikhail Mishustin as the new prime minister, one day after the resignation of the previous government.

The decree released on the Kremlin website becomes effective immediately.

Also on Thursday, Putin signed another decree appointing former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, a newly created post in the institution headed by Putin.

Earlier in the day, the Russian State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, approved Mishustin, 53, for the post by a majority vote.

Under the Russian constitution, Mishustin has to present to Putin the composition of the new government within one week.

The previous government headed by Medvedev tendered its resignation on Wednesday, shortly after Putin made an address to the Federal Assembly.