Context: Recently, the Russian citizens have supported a set of constitutional amendments including continuation of presidency by Vladimir Putin in a recent held referendum in the country.

• The national referendum had asked voters to decide whether to approve 206 constitutional amendments.
• Both turnout and popular support for the amendments was higher than when Russians voted to adopt the current Constitution itself in 1993 (when support was 58.4 percent with 54.8 percent turnout).

What will change with the constitutional reforms?

• The amendments would allow Putin to run for two more six-year terms, in 2024 and 2030.
• The Russian Constitution bars more than two consecutive presidential terms. The new Constitution doesn’t change the two-term limit in theory, but in practice, it resets Mr Putin’s terms so that it will be the first election under the new Constitution for him, to be held in 2024.
• Other amendments strengthen presidential and parliamentary powers, enshrine traditional values including an effective ban on gay marriage and guarantee better minimum wages and pensions.

The other changes to the constitution include measures to respect the country’s heritage and the orthodox church as well as strengthen the Kremlinover local and municipal authorities.

• The amendments also place strict limitations on Russians who hold foreign citizenship or residency from serving public office. 
• Most notably, these constitutional restrictions block any individual who has ever held foreign residency or citizenship from ever running for President.
• Finally, the amendments also declare the importance of a belief in God, that Russia will defend the historical “truth” about WWII, and that Russia is the successor state to the Soviet Union.

Challenges ahead for Russia

• According to the IMF, the economy hasn’t expanded in dollar terms for a decade.
• The Fund estimates the GDP to shrink by 6.6% this year. With the pandemic affecting local businesses and the oil price fall eating into exports revenue, the Kremlin finds it difficult to fix the economy in the near term.
• In foreign policy, Russia’s relationship with the West remains troublesome.
• The sanctions imposed on Russia after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 are still in place.
• Though Russia managed to prevent the collapse of the Syrian regime after its intervention in the civil war, the Syrian crisis is far from resolved.
• Russia also faces allegations of interference in the elections of other countries.