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Putin Backs Proposal That Could Let Him Be President of Russia Until 2036

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  • Russian President Vladimir Putin has come out in support of a proposed amendment that could let him be president for another 12 years after his term ends in 2024.
  • Russia’s constitution currently limits the president to two consecutive terms, but the new law would reset Putin’s term-limit clock so he could run for a third consecutive term.
  • Putin said while he thinks Russia must become a country that changes presidents, they are not ready, and he needs to stay in power to maintain stability.
  • The law was passed by Russia’s lower chamber of parliament after Putin gave a speech in support of the move.

Putin’s New Plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed a constitutional amendment Tuesday that could let him stay in the presidency until 2036.

Russia’s constitution currently limits the president to two consecutive terms, and right now Putin is two years into his second six-year term, which is set to end in 2024.

The keyword here is “consecutive”— the constitution just says a president cannot serve more than two consecutive terms. But if a termed-out president sits out just one term, then they can run for re-election again.

This is something Putin has done before.

He served as president for two terms from 2000 to 2008, before the terms were changed from four to six years. When he was termed out, he stepped down and took over the role of prime minister under then-President Dmitry Medvedev.

Then in 2012, he was elected again, and Medvedev basically just switched places with Putin, taking over the role as prime minister.

Putin won again in 2018, but with his fourth term set to end in 2024, many wondered what he would do next. Of course, under Russia’s constitution, he could sit out another six-year term and then run for president again in 2030.

But Putin is currently 67, which means he would be 77 by the time he was eligible to run again in 2030. So while his next move was up in the air, most experts expected the president to try to consolidate his power in some way.

In January, he proposed a series of constitutional amendments that experts said were part of a clear effort to retain some kind of influence after his term.

Some of those amendments involved limiting the power of his successor to the presidency and expanding the power of other bodies outside of the presidency— which he would presumably take over.

Now, it seems like he has gone back on those plans, instead opting to just change the rules so he can stay in the most powerful position longer.

Constitutional Amendment

Tuesday’s events appeared to set that plan in motion, in a series of developments that many have described as highly choreographed.

This was evident from the get-go, when the idea was first proposed by Valentina Tereshkova, a popular member of parliament who is famous for being the first woman to go to space.

Tereshkova said that Russia should either scrap term limits altogether or pass an amendment that would basically reset Putin’s term-limit clock so he could run for a third consecutive term. 

“Given his enormous authority, this would be a stabilizing factor for our society,” the former cosmonaut argued.

That was reportedly met with applause and was followed by a call to Putin, who then made a rare appearance in parliament to express his support for resetting his term limits.

“The president is a guarantor of security of our state, its internal stability and evolutionary development,” he said. “We have had enough revolutions.”

“I’m sure that together, we will do many more great things, at least until 2024. Then, we will see,” he concluded.

Notably, Putin said did not want to scrap term limits altogether. Even more notably, he said the constitution should keep the two-term limit.

Putin asserted that he believes Russia must turn into a country that changes presidents regularly— just not now, because it is not ready. Shortly after that, the lower house of parliament approved the proposal by a large margin.

The law will now go to Russia’s Constitutional Court, which is all but assured to decide it is legal. From there it will go to the Russian people who will vote on it as a referendum on April 22 along with other proposed constitutional reforms.

If approved, Putin would get the green light to chance another 12 years in office— another 16 years, if you include 2020 through 2024.

Technically, Putin has not officially said that he will run, but given his remarks about how Russia is not ready for a new president yet, it would be a pretty good bet that he will.

See what others are saying: (The New York Times) (The Guardian) (The Associated Press)

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95-Year-Old Woman Dies After Police Tases Her in Nursing Home

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The officer involved was suspended with pay and charged with assault.


A 95-year-old Australian woman whom police tasered in a nursing home last week has reportedly died from her injuries.

Clare Nowland, who had dementia and required a walking frame to stand up and move, was living at the Yallambee Lodge in Cooma in southeastern Australia.

At about 4:15 a.m. on May 17, police and paramedics responded to a report of a woman standing outside her room with a steak knife.

They encountered Nowland, then reportedly tried to negotiate with her for several minutes, but she didn’t drop the knife.

The five-foot-two, 95-pound woman walked toward the two officers “at a slow pace,” police said at a news conference, so one of them tasered her.

She fell to the floor and reportedly suffered a fractured skull and a severe brain bleed, causing her to be hospitalized in critical condition.

Nowland passed away in a hospital surrounded by her family, the New South Wales police confirmed in a statement today.

After a week-long investigation, the police force also said that the senior constable involved would appear in court next week to face charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault.

NSW police procedure states that tasers should not be used against elderly or disabled people absent exceptional circumstances.

Following the incident, community members, activists, and disability rights advocates expressed bewilderment and anger at what they called an unnecessary use of force, and some are now questioning why law enforcement took so long to prosecute the officer involved.

See what others are saying: (Reuters) (The New York Times) (CNN)

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U.K. Police Face Backlash After Arresting Anti-Monarchy Protesters

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that some of the arrests “raise questions” and “investigations are ongoing.”


The Public Order Act

A controversial protest crackdown law in the U.K. is facing criticism after dozens of anti-monarchy protesters were arrested during the coronation ceremony in London over the weekend.

The law, dubbed the “Public Order Act” was passed roughly a week ahead of the coronation for King Charles III. It gives police more power to restrict protesters and limits the tactics protesters can use in public spaces. It was condemned by human rights groups upon its passing, and is facing a new round of heat after 52 people were arrested over coronation protests on Saturday.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said protesters were arrested for public order offenses, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. The group said it gave advance warning that its “tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low and that we would deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining the celebration.”

It is currently unclear how many of those arrested were detained specifically for violating the Public Order Act, however, some of those arrested believe the new law was used against them.

“Make no mistake. There is no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK,” Graham Smith, the CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic tweeted after getting arrested. “I have been told many times the monarch is there to defend our freedoms. Now our freedoms are under attack in his name.”

An Attempt to “Diminish” Protests

During a BBC Radio interview, Smith also said he believes the dozens of arrests were premeditated. 

“There was nothing that we did do that could possibly justify even being detained and arrested and held,” Smith claimed. 

“The whole thing was a deliberate attempt to disrupt and diminish our protest.”

Yasmine Ahmed, the U.K. Director of Human Rights Watch, also tweeted that the arrests were “disgraceful.”

“These are scenes you’d expect to see in Russia not the UK,” she wrote. 

When asked about the controversy, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters officers should  do “what they think is best” in an apparent show of support for the Metropolitan Police. 

For his part, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he is looking into the matter.

“Some of the arrests made by police as part of the Coronation event raise questions and whilst investigations are ongoing, I’ve sought urgent clarity from Met leaders on the action taken,” Khan tweeted.

See what others are saying: (The Guardian) (CNN) (The Washington Post)

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Foreign Nationals Make Mad Dash out of Sudan as Conflict Rages

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The conflict’s death toll has surpassed 420, with nearly 4,000 people wounded.


As the 10-day-long power struggle between rival generals tore Sudan apart, foreign governments with citizens in the country scrambled to evacuate them over the weekend.

On Sunday, U.S. special forces landed in the capital Khartoum and carried out nearly 100 American diplomats along with their families and some foreign nationals on helicopters.

An estimated 16,000 Americans, however, remain in the country and U.S. officials said in a statement that a broader evacuation mission would be too dangerous.

Christopher Maier, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity warfare, said in a statement that the Pentagon may assist U.S. citizens find safe routes out of Sudan.

“[The Defense Department] is at present considering actions that may include use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to be able to observe routes and detect threats,” he said.

Germany and France also reportedly pulled around 700 people out of the country.

More countries followed with similar efforts, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Indonesia.

Yesterday, a convoy carrying some 700 United Nations, NGO, and embassy staff drove to Port Sudan, a popular extraction point now that the airport in Khartoum has closed due to fighting.

Reports of gunmen prowling the capital streets and robbing people trying to escape, as well as looters breaking into abandoned homes and shops, have persuaded most residents to stay indoors.

Heavy gunfire, airstrikes, and artillery shelling have terrorized the city despite several proposed ceasefires.

Over the weekend, the reported death toll topped 420, with nearly 4,000 people injured, though both numbers are likely to be undercounted.

See what others are saying: (The Guardian) (The New York Times) (The Washington Post)

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