Russia's ruling United Russia party on Saturday unanimously elected Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as its leader at a party congress, RIA Novosti reports..
In late April, President Vladimir Putin announced that he was stepping down from the helm of United Russia in favor of Medvedev. The move marked the latest in a string of attempts by Putin to distance himself from a political party that is rapidly losing support.
Putin presided over United Russia from 2008-2012. He has headed the party since he became prime minister in 2008.
Medvedev became a member of United Russia on May 22.
The 13th congress of the United Russia party in Moscow brought together 670 delegates and about 1,600 guests. Serbian President-elect Tomislav Nikolic and 30 foreign delegations attended the event.
