FACTBOX: Russian president and PM: who does what?

(Reuters) - Dmitry Medvedev, named by President Vladimir Putin as his preferred successor, said on Tuesday he wanted Putin to become prime minister in a future government to guarantee stability and continuity.

Following is a breakdown of presidential and prime ministerial powers under the current constitutional rules.

Russian officials caution that an exclusively legal view of the division of power does not allow for the deeply personal basis of authority in Russia.

PRESIDENT:

- Head of state

- Office in the Kremlin

- Commander-in-chief of armed forces -- in charge of Russia's nuclear weapons.

- Sets direction of both foreign and domestic policies

- Guarantor of the constitution, citizens' rights

- Defender of Russia's sovereignty

- Prime Minister reports directly to the president. President appoints and sacks PM and other federal ministers, subject to parliamentary approval

- All Russian spy services report directly to the president

- Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, Interior Ministry, Emergency Ministry, Justice Ministry all report directly to President

- President controls the Presidential Administration, based in the Kremlin

- President has a right to chair cabinet meetings, but normally leaves this to the Prime Minister

- President controls and appoints the Security Council, which oversees Russia's defence and security policies