Russian Duma passes bill allowing Putin to run for president again

The State Duma passed in the first reading a draft legislation at a plenary session today to implement a constitutional amendment that will allow incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin to run for presidency again.

The document was introduced to the State Duma by lawmakers Pavel Krasheninnikov and Olga Savastianova as well as by Federation Council member Andrey Klishas.

According to one of the new provisions of the Russian Constitution, the limitation on the number of terms the same person may serve as the President of the Russian Federation is applied to the incumbent head of state without taking into account his previous presidential terms. Thus, this norm will allow the current head of state to serve two presidential terms.