(MENAFN) President Vladimir Putin has pledged not to change the Russian constitution to allow him to keep running for president indefinitely.
"I had an opportunity, I was even asked to change the constitution at one time," Putin said during a televised question-and-answer session with schoolchildren in the Black Sea resort of Sochi Friday. "I did not do it, and I don't intend to do it in the future."
Putin has dominated Russia"s political landscape and greatly expanded his power during the last 17 years.
He served two presidential terms before stepping down in 2008 to become prime minister and avoid a constitutional bar on running a third consecutive term. He then returned to the presidency in 2012 for another term and is legally entitled to serve for a fourth term.
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