Vladimir Putin is only the second freely “elected” president in Russia’s history. So far Russia hasn’t had the greatest track record when it come to presidents. America’s first two included George Washington and John Adams, and were followed by a number of highly qualified individual who were committed to the concept of representative government. Putin and Boris Yeltsin, however, have a far more dubious track record. While Yeltsin was notorious for being drunk on the job and his administration was noted for graft and corruption, Putin is noted for his authoritarianism, and ongoing corruption in his administration as well.

Under Putin, freedom of the press has been all but eliminated and the voice of any opposition has been silenced under threat of arrest and imprisonment, which makes it fairly easy to win an election. Its no surprise that Putin remains popular in the polls, with state media singing his praises 24-7 and most opposition silenced Putin is virtually a god to the Russian people. In spite of his ongoing popularity and his dominance of the Russian Duma (Parliament), it comes as a surprise that Putin has announced that he will not seek a third term when his current term expires in 2008. Such a move would require an amendment to the Russian Constitution, but such an act is insignificant in contrast with the laborious task of altering the US Constitution. Putin, however, is not one who is likely to give up power very easily and even Putin has left the door open for some last minute shenanigans.

Putin has argued that he will not allow Russia to become “destabilized” after the March 2008 election. Its anyone’s guess what such a statement could mean, but it would not be far fetched to believe that Putin could declare marshal law or take some other extra-legal act if he is unsatisfied with the results of the election. Russia has never had a traditional democratic transfer of power. Putin initially became president in 2000, when Yeltsin before his term expired, giving Putin the position of incumbent and allowing him to use the power of the Kremlin to solidify his hold on power prior to the next election. Perhaps Putin plans to appoint his successor as well.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/31/D8DJ6ARG0.html