khosq.com

MOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
could resign from his post in 2009 to pave the way for Vladimir Putin
to return to the Kremlin, Vedomosti newspaper reported on Thursday,
citing an unidentified source close to the Kremlin.

Mr. Medvedev on Wednesday proposed increasing the presidential term to
six years from four years, a step the newspaper said was part of a plan
drawn up by Vladislav Surkov, who serves as Mr. Medvedev's first deputy
chief of staff.

Under the plan, Mr. Medvedev could implement changes to the
constitution and unpopular social reforms “so that Putin could
return to the Kremlin for a longer period,” the newspaper said.

“Under this scenario Medvedev could resign early citing changes
to the constitution and then presidential elections could take place in
2009,” the newspaper said, citing the unidentified source close
to the Kremlin.