Vladimir Putin´s naked power grab could have unexpected benefits | Yana Gorokhovskaia
(The Guardian Russia)

A weaker presidency and a stronger parliament must be good for Russia´s democracy, whatever the real intentionWednesday may prove to be one of the most important days in the political history of post-Soviet Russia. During the last 10 minutes of his annual state-of-the-nation speech, Vladimir Putin announced a series of proposals to reform Russia´s constitution that seem to lay out the roadmap for his own political future after 2024. System-wide change is on the horizon for Russia, but the country´s most important political figure is likely to remain central to it all for years to come. Related: Putin`s plans are all about keeping his hands on levers of power Continue reading...