President for life: Putin’s contentious victory could mean dark days ahead for Russia

President for life: Putin’s contentious victory could mean dark days ahead for Russia: by Aurel Braun, University of Toronto

The final plebiscite results on a huge package of Russian constitutional amendments that resulted in a 78 per cent “Yes” vote must have seemed like “mission accomplished” to President Vladimir Putin.

Yet celebrations and triumphant statements by the Kremli