Putin nominates Federal Tax Service head Mikhail Mishustin to become Russia’s prime minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed Federal Tax Service (FNS) head Mikhail Mishustin to the State Duma as a candidate for the post of prime minister of the Russian government. The Kremlin’s press service reported Putin’s decision to the news agency Interfax.

Putin held a meeting with Mishustin to offer him the post, and Mishustin accepted Putin’s proposal.

The State Duma will consider Mishustin’s candidacy on January 16, the parliament’s press service told journalists.

Mikhail Mishustin holds an advanced doctorate in economics. From 1992 to 1996, he worked for the International Computer Club, one of the largest computer exhibitions in Russia. Since 1998, he has occupied various government posts, including a stint as deputy tax minister in 1999 – 2004. Mishustin also leads the Federal Real Estate Inventory Agency and the Federal Agency for the Management of Special Economic Zones. In 2008, he became president of the UFG Group, which is registered in Russia as OFG Invest. In April 2010, Mishustin became the head of the Federal Tax Service.

Earlier in the day on January 15, now-Acting Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his government resigned. Vladimir Putin signed an order affirming the resignation of Medvedev’s ministers and assigned Medevedev his current temporary role.