Putin orders Russian constitutional vote despite virus fears

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered a vote on constitutional changes which would allow him to extend his rule and stay on past 2024.
Last week, Russia’s Duma approved a law on constitutional amendments that would allow Putin to seek reelection in 2024 by restarting the term count. The following day, Putin issued a decree on holding the nationwide vote on the proposed amendments on 22 April.
During a meeting with Russia’s top election official, Putin said that the vote could be delayed if the coronavirus situation worsens: “If the situation requires that, we will postpone the all-Russia vote”, he warned.
The country has so far has reported 114 infections. Putin said that the situation was under control. The authorities banned outdoor events with attendance of more than 50 people until 10 April. The opposition has previously called for protests on 21 March, which means the protests will be forbidden.
Alexei Navalny, Russia’s leading opposition figure, denounced Putin for calling the vote amid the spread of the virus: “Putin’s order to hold the vote on ‘nullifying’ his terms for April 22 looks like a crime amid the pandemic and the quarantine. They will drive the pensioners to take part in this sham”, Navalny tweeted.
Putin has been in power for more than 20 years, both as a president and as a prime minister.