Russia's Medvedev nominates Putin as PM

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday formally nominated Vladimir Putin as his prime minister, the Kremlin said.

Parliament, controlled by Putin's party, must confirm the appointment and is expected to hold a vote on Thursday. Medvedev was sworn in as president earlier on Wednesday, succeeding his mentor Putin.

"Yes, of course, he has submitted (the nomination)," a Kremlin spokeswoman said.

Medvedev, a 42-year-old former lawyer, said last year he would ask Putin to serve as his prime minister. A Putin premiership sets up an unusual arrangement under which the two men will effectively be sharing power.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Denis Dyomkin, editing by Christian Lowe)