MOSCOW, February 2 (RIA Novosti) - Alexander...

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed the decree on January 29.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced the establishment of the North Caucasus district on January 19 and named Krasnoyarsk governor and former business executive Alexander Khloponin deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the volatile North Caucasus. Analysts describe Khloponin as a "crisis manager" for the region.

Putin formed the Russian government presidium, comprising deputy prime ministers and issue-specific ministers, in May 2008. The move was widely seen as part of an ongoing redistribution of presidential and governmental powers.

Under the federal Constitutional law on the Russian government, any inner Cabinet decisions must be approved by a majority and should not contradict resolutions adopted at government meetings. The government has the right to annul any decision taken by the presidium.