Russian President signed law that could keep him in power till 2036

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that could keep him in office in the Kremlin until 2036.

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Putin, a former KGB officer who is now 68, completes his ongoing six-year tenure — his fourth as President — in 2024.

He has already run the country either as President or as Prime Minister for more than 20 years.

This is the longest period a leader has been in power since Joseph Stalin, who was Secretary General of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1922-1953) and the premier of the Soviet Union from 1941-1953.

Some critics have likened Putin’s move to a power grab while others have called them a “constitutional coup”.

Before the new legislation was signed, a President could serve a maximum of two consecutive six-year terms. That term limit remains even in the new legislation.

What has changed is that Putin’s previous terms will not be counted once the new legislation comes into effect. These will be “zeroed out”, giving him the option of serving two more consecutive terms after the current one ends in 2024.