(Adds paragraph 4)
OMSK, July 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's economics minister said Friday he had approved the resignation of his deputy, Andrei Sharonov, which has yet to receive the prime minister's backing.
"I have signed [Sharonov's] resignation," German Gref said. "The [final] decision will be made by the prime minister."
Sharonov, who oversaw administrative reform in the ministry and presented ministry-sponsored bills in parliament, announced his plans to resign earlier in July, saying he intended to go into business.
Gref refused to tell journalists whom he would like to see as his new deputy, explaining it by the fact that the decision has not been made and that it would be made by the premier.
