Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has nominated...

The current president of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiyev, announced on Friday he had no plans to seek another term of office after his tenure ends on March 25.

"Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has recommended that the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan vests Rustam Minnikhanov with presidential powers," the Russian leader"s press service said.

Medvedev had earlier described Minnikhanov as having the necessary skills and characteristics for the position.

Shaimiyev, 73, has headed Tatarstan since 1991. In the early 1990s, the oil-rich republic"s 3.8 million inhabitants looked set to split from Russia, with 62 per cent of voters, a figure slightly higher than the republic"s Muslim to non-Muslim ratio, supporting independence in a referendum. Secession was eventually avoided after a broad form of autonomy was granted to the republic.

MOSCOW, January 27 (RIA Novosti)