Regional leaders should have equal status, Putin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that regional leaders should have equal status, no matter whether they are elected by local legislatures or by popular vote. The president said so today during his meeting with representatives of the parliamentary factions.

The president noted that regional leaders elected by local legislatures would have the same power as those elected by popular vote.

Direct regional elections were restored in Russia after the massive protest campaign that followed the parliamentary elections in December 2011. However, soon after that a new law was adopted, which allowed local legislatures to decide whether the popular vote is necessary.

The alteration was criticized harshly by the Russian opposition.