Mikhail Fradkov

(Newser) - Russian president Vladimir Putin shocked observers today by nominating a relative unknown to be the country's next prime minister, the BBC reports. After Mikhail Fradkov resigned earlier, Putin turned to Viktor Zubkov, head of the federal financial monitoring service. Putin had been expected to name first deputy PM Sergei Ivanov,...

(Newser) - Russian president Vladimir Putin today accepted  the resignation of his prime minister, Mikhail Fradkov, and the whole cabinet. The shakeup gives Putin a chance to name a new PM and position a successor to himself as president. The new PM is likely to be current first deputy PM Sergei Ivanov,...