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Dmitry Medvedev (d.) Explained resigning following President Putin's decision (l.) To make fundamental changes to the Russian Constitution. REUTERS

The Russian government announced his resignation on Wednesday, just hours after a speech in which Vladimir Putin announced his intention to hold a referendum to make substantial changes to the Russian constitution.

From our correspondent in Moscow , Daniel Vallot

The announcement was made in the middle of the afternoon this Friday, in a joint television address by the two men: Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev were seated side by side, the Prime Minister resigning slightly tense. It was he who announced his decision, recalling the constitutional changes detailed by the Russian president during his speech before Parliament a few hours earlier.

" This is a change not only to articles of the Constitution but to the balance of power between the legislative and the executive, " added Dmitri Medvedev.

In his speech, Vladimir Putin said he wanted to strengthen the role of the Prime Minister and of Parliament, to the detriment of that of the President. He also announced the holding of a referendum for these changes, but did not specify the date on which the vote would be held.

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Alongside Dmitri Medvedev, Vladimir Putin also spoke briefly, thanking the man who was his Prime Minister for eight years - and who was also president from 2008 to 2012 - thanking him for " all that has been accomplished ”during those years.

Vladimir Putin offered Dmitry Medvedev to take the post of deputy head of the Russian Security Council, but asked him to stay in his current post until he appointed a new prime minister and a new government.