Lev Shlosberg’s blog post, 15.01.2020

The main thing in Putin’s proposals today:

First. Isolation of Russia from the system of international law, that is, the impossibility of protecting the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens on the basis of international law. This virtually means Russia’s withdrawal from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights and, possibly, other international supranational institutions. It also creates the possibility of adoption in Russia of legal norms directly contradicting the international law. This is expressly prohibited by the current Constitution.

Second. Prevention of a “second Putin” as ruling out of a possibility of a “long-term and strong successor”: it is proposed to remove the word “in a row” from the Constitution as regards the terms of the President in office, that is, all subsequent ones will have no more than two terms. The limitation of the President’s powers in appointing officials to senior government posts by strengthening the role of the Federal Assembly also means, first of all, not strengthening the parliament, but limiting the powers of the future President.

Third. The first drawing of a possible place for Putin after 2024 (or earlier, if the presidential election is pre-term): head of the State Council, whose powers will be enshrined in the Constitution. Putin reserves the opportunity to be an architect of the state for some time. This scenario has not been elaborated. What role the Governors will play in the State Council is not said, but it is quite possible that a new collegial body of state power will emerge, consisting of Governors, the Chairman of the Government, and Putin.

Fourth. The announcement of the creation of a unified system of public authority, which in reality may not mean strengthening of local self-government, but embedding it in a single vertical of power. What powers and capabilities it may have is yet unclear. The judiciary remains subordinate to the President. The independence of the judiciary will not be ensured.

Fifth. An attempt to compensate for the destructive social and public consequences of the pension reform through a package of measures for young families and young people in general, measures of support of the demographic policy and education. Recognition of the complete collapse of the state health care reform (“optimisation”). The proposed corrective measures are insufficient.

Important. Proposals for amendments to the Constitution envisage a “popular vote” when it is enough to get a majority of votes at any level of citizen participation, rather than a referendum. Exactly so – by a popular vote, and not by a referendum – the current Constitution was adopted. Moreover, the vote, apparently, will be for a package of amendments, “wholesale”: one mark for all proposed changes, and not for each separately. If this happens, then citizens will not have the opportunity to express an opinion on individual changes during the voting. In general, the majority of constitutional proposals are not detailed and can be “refined beyond recognition” in the process of their development.

Putin proposed a state reform, which would be aimed at preserving the system he created so that the power could suppress the society, rather than developing democracy and strengthening freedoms.

LEV SHLOSBERG

Member of the Political Committee of the Yabloko Party. Chairman of the Pskov regional branch of the Party, MP of the Pskov Regional Assembly of Deputies. Winner of the Golden Pen of Russia award.