MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian presidents could be made senators for life when they leave office under a proposed reform, a senior lawmaker said on Tuesday, a status that would give them immunity from prosecution.

The initiative, drawn up by a government commission, follows sweeping changes to Russia's political system proposed last month by President Vladimir Putin.


Putin's proposals, which were accompanied by a government reshuffle, would shift power away from the presidency and were widely seen as being designed to help him extend his grip on power after he leaves the presidency in 2024.


The lower house of parliament backed the changes in a preliminary vote last month. The commission's proposals will also be put to a vote.

Among them is a suggestion presidents become lawmakers for life in the upper house of parliament once their terms in the Kremlin end or they resign, Pavel Krasheninnikov, the working group's deputy head, said, Interfax news agency reported.

Under Russian law, lawmakers in the lower and upper houses of parliament are immune to criminal prosecution.

Krasheninnikov said the idea had been put forward by members of the working group and was based on their study of upper houses of parliament in other countries. He did not say the move was meant to shield former presidents from criminal prosecution.

He said it would allow Russia to tap into the "colossal experience and knowledge" of former presidents.

The commission has already put forward an array of other proposals, including one that would change Putin’s job description to Supreme Ruler.

Before they become law, the constitutional amendments must be approved by the lower house of parliament in two further votes before being voted on by the upper house, examined by regional parliaments, and then signed by Putin.

Putin has said the changes would be put to a nationwide vote, but it is unclear when that could take place.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Tom Balmforth; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Can this ever happen in nigeria

Putin wants to remain relevant for life....

Lol...Russia is a typical example if a tyranny personified country..Putin wants to go to grave with power

What I read was freedom to commit crime for life

Vidamia:
Can this ever happen in nigeria

Most governors are already senators and most of dem will remain there till dey are tired, it would take a former president absolutely nothing to win a Senate sit in Nigeria. It's a gud thing for dem their leaders are young and still have both life and reasonable experience to offer

GOOD FOR THE FATHER LAND, FOR CONTINUITY AND PREVENT THEIR INHERITANCE FROM BEING TAKEN OVER BY ALIENS !!!

JUST IMAGINE CLINTON OBAMA AND BUSH BEING SENATORS NOW. PELOSI WOULD HAVE BEEN TAMED.

AND OBASANJO AND JONATHAN BEING SENATORS NOW. BUHARI WOULDN'T DARE ISLAMISATION AND FULANISATION.

THIS IS THE HOUSE OF LORDS' EXPERIENCE THAT KEEPS BRITAIN FLOATING.

From Orunto27

I love this...imagine all Nigerian past presidents and vice presidents as senators, they would have impeached Buhari since.

Vidamia:
Can this ever happen in nigeria

.



JUST AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO ACCOMMODATE IT.

And if a former president who becomes a senator commits a crime , he won't be face trial due to immunity ?

O God, the bastards in Nigeria will wet their smelly pants when they hear this.

Vidamia:
Can this ever happen in nigeria

NO it cannot because Nigeria is a far more sophisticated country than Russia where one man is everything.