Authoritarian Russia

Topic: Chechnya/Russia

Sunday was Constitution Day in Russia. A day celebrating the adoption of the Constitution of the Russian Federation on December 12, 1993... of course following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Sunday, the eleventh anniversery of the Constitution President Putin signed a bill eliminating direct elections of governors. This new law gives Putin the power to appoint the 89 regional governors.

Does this worry anyone? This is a huge step backwords for democracy in Russia. Putin is going to place his cronies in these positions.

Critics say the legislation returns Russia to the Soviet era, when the Kremlin appointed local Communist Party bosses. Critics also say it ends a major part of Russia's decade-long experiment with decentralization and undermines the country's status as a federation, which is stipulated in the constitution.
Russia: Putin Signs Bill Eliminating Direct Elections Of Governors... Radio Free Europe

Putin is slowly consildating power in Moscow - again. One word describes the current situation - disturbing. And he accuses the west of interfering with the democratic process in Ukraine. Please.