Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered proposals by December 1 on the possible decentralization of power between federal, regional and municipal governments.
"Powers...should be transferred to regional levels...and to the municipal level," Medvedev said.
The president echoed comments made at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum by Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov earlier this month that Russia's current system of governance is unsustainable.
Earlier in June Medvedev announced plans to set up a working group to prepare proposals for the decentralization of power in the country.