MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not mention any decision on running for president in 2024, much work is yet to be done until then, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

"I urge you to recollect President Putin’s speech in the State Duma the day before yesterday [March 10 — TASS], in which he made no mention of any decision regarding 2024," he said when asked whether the incumbent president will run for president during the next election, if the relevant amendment enters into force.

Peskov recalled the head of state’s words that there is a lot of time left until 2024 and that hard work lies ahead. He stressed that Putin was at the initial stage of his presidential term. "As for 2024, ending his speech [in the State Duma], Putin said, "We shall see when 2024 comes," the Kremlin spokesman added.

Referring to the amendment on "resetting to zero" the number of presidential terms, Peskov noted that this amendment could in no way affect the attitude towards Putin’s performance over the past 20 years. "This is a long and very important period in the development of our country, which is directly tied to Vladimir Putin," he noted.

When asked whether the expectations of those who will come to vote for the constitutional amendments will be met, Peskov stressed, "People will vote for the whole package [of the amendments]. Everyone will make one’s own decision, and this package will come into force only after people vote for it, and President Putin pointed to that on numerous occasions," he concluded.

Constitutional amendments

On March 11, the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) voted to approve the law on the amendments to Russia’s Constitution. A total of 160 senators voted in favor of the bill, while one voted against it, and another three abstained.

The bill sets a limit of two presidential terms, but the incumbent head of state will have the opportunity to run for president once the amendments come into force. The bill expands the authority of Russia’s parliament and Constitutional Court, bars officials from holding foreign passports and residence permits and ensures the supremacy of the Constitution within Russia’s legal system.

The final decision on the amendments’ entry into force will be made by Russians during the nationwide public vote scheduled for April 22. They should be supported by more than one half of citizens taking part in the vote.