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Amendments bill consistent with articles 1, 2 and 9 of Russia’s Constitution — court

The ruling of the Russian Constitutional Court on the constitutional amendments bill will enter into force immediately, the Russian Constitutional Court informed Monday

© Pyotr Kovalyov/TASS, archive

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Russia not planning to postpone constitutional amendments vote so far — Kremlin

ST. PETERSBURG, March 16. /TASS/. Russia’s Constitutional Court has ruled on Monday that the constitutional amendments bill proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin is in line with Articles 1, 2 and 9 of the Russian Constitution.

"The manner of entry into force of Article 1 of the law of the Russian Federation on amendments to the Russian Constitution "On improving the regulation of certain aspects of organization and functioning of public government" is in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation," the document informs.

"The provisions of the law of the Russian Federation on amendments to the Russian Constitution "On improving the regulation of certain aspects of organization and functioning of public government" are in accordance with Articles 1, 2 and 9 of the Russian Federation," the ruling says.

The ruling of the Russian Constitutional Court on the constitutional amendments bill proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin is final. It will enter into force immediately, the Russian Constitutional Court informed on Monday, adding that the ruling was forwarded to Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately.

Constitutional amendments

On March 11, the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) approved the final reading of the constitutional amendments bill proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. On the same day, it was endorsed by the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) and Russia’s regional parliaments. On March 14, the Russian Federation Council approved a ruling on the outcomes of the parliament’s analysis of the bill, sending it to the president.

The text of the bill was published on the official legal information portal. After the Constitutional Court’s ruling, which states that the bill does not violate the Constitution, a public vote will be held. If over 50% of the vote approve of the changes, the bill will enter into force.

The vote is expected to take place on April 22, which will be declared a non-working day. However, Putin has not yet published a presidential decree stipulating the date of the vote.

The document proposes to expand the powers of the Russian parliament and the Russian Constitutional Court, a fixed number of presidential terms, as well as the prevalence of the Russian Constitution over international agreements. The document also extends the government’s obligations in the social sphere. The amendments to the Constitution stipulate that the Russian head of state can only serve two terms, however, one of the amendments proposes that the current president can be re-elected if the new version of the Constitution comes into force.

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