The Kremlin lies to kids Putin’s spokesman refuses to change language on the administration’s website for children that says presidents are prohibited from running for a third consecutive term
Meduza: In connection with [Valentina] Tereshkova’s amendment, Internet users have been actively quoting an excerpt from the children’s version of the Kremlin’s website that says, “The president is forbidden from cheating or violating the Constitution. Even if all citizens are completely enraptured by their president, you cannot elect him three times in a row.” Do the website’s administrators plan to update these assertions to avoid misleading Russia’s children?
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman: No, there’s no reason to do that. In this case, we’re talking about a completely different situation and actually Tereshekova explained her initiative herself in detail. I’ll say it again: the maximum number of presidential terms is established in the Constitution. It’s not disappearing from there. And it’s just that, based on the current situation, a one-time exemption was suggested in relation to the current president. So in no way is this a reason to revise such important messages contained on the children’s website.
For more about these reforms
- ‘Constitutional Gymnastics’: Russia's strange initiative to keep Vladimir Putin in office for years to come
- In brief How high-ranking Russian officials are justifying the move to let Putin serve again (and again)
- Not very How legal is the mad dash to overhaul Russia’s Constitution?
- The constitutionality of six terms Russia’s high court must decide if Putin can legally serve another two presidential terms. Here’s how the decision is supposed to work.
Tereshkova’s amendment
On March 10, State Duma deputy Valentina Tereshkova proposed an amendment to legislation introducing sweeping constitutional reforms that would reset the term clock to zero for Vladimir Putin, allowing him to run for another two terms after 2024, potentially extending his presidency to 2036.