Approved on May 31 by the Russian Federation Council (Senate) as part of the set of amendments to the Constitution, the new legislation establishes the impossibility of holding office as president for more than two terms, each of six years.

The text clarifies that the measure does not apply ‘to a person who holds or has held office as president of Russia at the time of the entry into force’ of those amendments.

The bill states that any Russian citizen aged at least 35, who has permanently resided in the country for at least 25 years, does not hold and has never held citizenship or a residence permit of another State may be elected president of the country.

Endorsed earlier by the State Duma (lower house), the law does not apply to Russians ‘who previously held citizenship of a State that was accepted or part of which was accepted into the Russian Federation, in accordance with Federal constitutional law.’

The initiative also introduces a lower age limit -30 years, for the person replacing the position of chairman of the Central Election Commission of Russia, among other prerogatives with respect to the duties and statutes of the regional commissions.

The document further sets out the regulations of the law on elections of lawmakers to the State Duma, which prohibits those sentenced to imprisonment for crimes of medium gravity from being nominated, and elected within five years after the dismissal or completion of their sentences.

rly/omr/msm/mml