Russia's Duma adopts at first reading bill on Constitutional amendments

REUTERS

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

The bill envisages, among other things, 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, Russian news agency TASS reported.

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The bill was adopted unanimously by 432 votes. The next reading of the bill may take place in the middle of February.