REUTERS

On the advice of Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen Parliament has introduced a constitutional amendment to the State Duma that would allow Russian presidents to serve three – not just two – consecutive terms.

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In other words, Chechen lawmakers want to let Putin run for re-election in 2024, without the smoke and mirrors needed in 2008, when Putin stepped aside briefly for Dmitry Medvedev's four-year placeholder presidency, the Latvian-based Russian-language news portal Meduza wrote.

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According to the legislation's explanatory note, Russia currently needs longer-serving leaders because of the country's "current stage of development." Allowing third consecutive terms, argues the Chechen Parliament, would "preserve the achieved socio-political stability" without eroding democratic principles. "It would allow the people to determine Russia's future themselves," the draft law says. Following a reform adopted during the Medvedev presidency, Russian presidential terms are now six years long.