Russia's State Duma adopts bill on amendments to Constitution in first reading

Russia’s State Duma adopted in the first reading Russian President Vladimir Putin’s bill on amendments to the Constitution 

Parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the lower house would hold its next reading of the legislation on February 11 and that parliament might manage to complete the overall approval process by the end of February.

Among other things, the amendments envisage an expansion of the rights of parliament and the Constitutional Court, a ban prohibiting top officials from having other countries’ residence permits, a restriction on the number of presidential terms, priority of national legislation over international agreements and greater social responsibilities of the state, TASS reported.

Once approved in three readings in the Duma, the bill will go to the upper house Federation Council before a final signature by Putin.