President Vladimir Putin is delivering his...>

RUSSIA: President Vladimir Putin is delivering his annual marathon press

conference, where he is quizzed on his record over the last 12 months.

- When asked about potential changes to the Russian constitutions, he says that

the clause that restricts the number of presidential term limits to two in a row

could be abolished. 

- Question was asked by veteran reporter from state-owned news agency RIA

Novosti, not an independent or opposition supporting outlet, implying that the

Kremlin was happy to have Putin's views on the record.

- Putin is in his second consecutive six-year term in office, and his fourth in

total. At present, he would not be entitled to run in the 2024 election. 

- Instead his party would have to present an alternative candidate, as was the

case during the presidency of now-Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev whose

four-year term from 2008 to 2012 broke up Putin's stints in office. 

- With President Xi Jinping unlikely to stick to the two 5-year presidential

term convention in China, a change to the Russian constitution could see these

strongmen leaders remain on the world stage for some time to come.