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-Top News Asia News

Putin to run for two more terms

The bill grants Putin the possibility of starting his presidency from scratch in 2024 and holding the office for two more terms until 2036…reports Asian Lite News.

Russia’s lower house of parliament the State Duma approved a bill, enabling incumbent President Vladimir Putin to run for two more terms starting 2024.

The draft law on elections, which was approved in the State Duma’s third or final reading on Wednesday, was made in pursuance of constitutional amendments adopted in a nationwide referendum in July 2020, Xinhua news agency reported.

One of the 206 constitutional amendments stipulates that the limit of two presidential terms applies to the incumbent head of state, but without taking into account his previous terms.

In light of the amendment, the bill grants Putin the possibility of starting his presidency from scratch in 2024 and holding the office for two more terms until 2036.

In accordance with the bill, a Russian citizen, who is at least 35 years old, has been a permanent resident of the country for at least 25 years, and has never held citizenship or a residence permit of a foreign state, can be elected Russian president.

The bill needs to be passed by the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, and then to be signed by Putin into law

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-Top News USA

Russia ‘prepared for worst’ over US ties

After a break, it seems like the Washington-Moscow relations are deteriorating to its worst as both the leaders are trading jabs after the release of US intelligence report, reports Asian Lite News

The Kremlin said that it hoped for the best regarding relations between Russia and the US, yet it was also “prepared for the worst”.

President Vladimir Putin has already made it clear that Russia wished to maintain its relations with the US as this would be of advantage for the rest of the world, Xinhua news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday.

Nevertheless, “we cannot fail to take into account” US President Joe Biden’s words, Peskov added.

Also Read – Putin invites Biden to virtual talks

The Kremlin’s remarks came amid escalating Moscow-Washington tensions after a US intelligence report on Tuesday, accusing Russia of “denigrating” Biden’s candidacy during the elections to increase support for former President Donald Trump.

US President Joe Biden (Photo – @POTUS)

Peskov has stressed once again that those claims of Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2020 US elections were baseless and regretful, calling them just another pretext for additional sanctions.

On Thursday, Putin told local media that he would like to invite Biden to an online meeting to continue their discussions of bilateral ties.

Also Read – Russia warns West of retaliation

“I want to invite President Biden to continue our discussions, but on the condition that we do this actually live, as they say, online,” he said.

The discussions could be held soon, and the Kremlin is ready at any time convenient for the White House, Putin said, adding that he would give relevant instructions to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and then US President Donald Trump at the 2017 G20 Hamburg Summit

Earlier that day, Putin said that the US has to take into account Russia’s interests and Moscow is capable of protecting them.

He emphasised that Russia is prepared to work with the US in fields of mutual interest, but only on terms that are favourable for Moscow.

Also Read – EU sanctions Russian officials