On December 30, 2008, Russia amended its constitution to extend term limits for its presidency from four to six years and for parliamentary seats from four to five years. One week prior, on December 22, 2008, the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, voted unanimously to approve the extension. Democracy advocates criticized this change as implicit authorization for Vladimir Putin to return for a third, longer term.


Coat of arms of Russia

Learn more about Vladimir Putin from the JURIST news archive.

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