President Putin Dismisses Russian Government, Kremlin Says Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) -- President Vladimir Putin dismissed the Russian government, the Kremlin's press service said. Russia's Micex index of stocks fell 1.4 percent after the announcement.
Kremlin officials declined to comment on why Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and his government had been fired. Kasyanov has been the only head of government during Putin's four years in office.
Putin is expected to win about 80 percent of the votes at presidential elections scheduled for March 14, according to a poll conducted by the Moscow-based All Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion from Feb. 13-16.
Czar Vladimir in all of his glory with his latest round of muscle flexing.
http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/88/350/12133_Putin.html Vladimir Putin dismissed Russian government
02/24/2004 17:25 Vladimir Putin dismissed Russian government
President Putin made the statement on dismissing the government Russian First Channel and Russian TV Channel.
According to Vladimir Putin, this decision did not result from the work of the former Cabinet. Russian President estimated the Cabinet"s work as satisfactory. President Putin said he had made this decision to demonstrate his position on the development of Russia after presidential elections taking place on March, 14.
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of finance Victor Khristenko has been appointed Interim Prime Minister, RIA-Novosti reported.
President said that he is authorized to make this decision by Article 117 of Russian Constitution, NEWSru reported.
The full text of the Decree by President Putin:
"In accordance with point "b" of Article 117 of Russian Constitution I have decided:
1. To dismiss the government of the Russian Federation
2. Appoint Deputy Prime Minister Victor Khristenko Interim Prime Minister.
3. Require Russian Government to execute its functions until the new Cabinet is formed.
4. This Decree came into force on the day it was signed".
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Viktor Borisovich Khristenko was a relative unknown until 1998. He's from the Chelyabinsk area, and is some kind of a economics, financial and commerce wiz, and has been in charge of the entire Russian Federation energy sector.
I'd say Putin has his "Da" man in position.