Now it's official: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he intends to run for another term in the next presidential election, which will be held on March 17, 2024. If he wins, this will be Putin's fifth term as President of Russia, and together with his term as Prime Minister he will complete 30 consecutive years as ruler the state.
As a reminder, in 2020 Putin held a referendum on an amendment to the Russian constitution that extended the term limit for the president to 4 consecutive terms, so that he would not have to end his term next year at the end of his second consecutive term. Following the approval of the constitutional amendment, Putin will be able to remain in power until 2036.
Putin has been in Russian power, either as president or prime minister, since 2000, making him the longest-reigning leader since Joseph Stalin. As mentioned, in 2008 Putin left his position as president due to term limits, and instead served as the Russian Prime Minister between 2008 and 2012 - alternating with the then Prime Minister and current Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev.
In 2012, Putin returned to the presidency, and in 2018 he won a fourth term after controversial elections, in which the administration was accused of widespread fraud and threats against candidates and supporters of opposition parties.