What Russia After Putin?
If only because nothing lasts forever, because no one lives forever, the Putin era in Russia will eventually end. President Vladimir V. Putin is 64 years old, and those who oppose his regime are focusing their attention on imagining what will happen after him — especially since his government’s ongoing crackdown makes it so difficult to focus on the present.
Russian President Putin works constantly to suppress sources of dissent and decentralize the constitutional mechanism of checks and balances. Such powers are possible because of idol worship in Russian politics, a fact that stands in the way of democracy and the rule of law. Russia must completely abandon strongman politics and learn to rely instead on the system. This will require complete constitutional reform so that the heads of the executive, legislative, judicial and procuratorial branches are all elected by the public, the legislative Duma will pay attention to public opinion and adopt international legal standards, and elections will be free of charge for all candidates. See the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development