Hes the longest serving russian leader since Joseph Stalin but a lot of the putin wants to stay in power even longer a referendum on constitutional reforms court extend his rule so how will this shape the future of russia this is inside still. Hello welcome to the program on. Vladimir putin was 1st elected as russias president in 2020 years later he still had he served longer than any russian or soviet politician since the early 1950 s. And it could be on course to be one of his nations longest serving leaders putins opponents say he plans to Never Leave Office constitutional reforms introduced in january will allow him to stay in power for another 26 year terms his current one ends in 4 years russians have started voting in a weeklong referendum on the amendments but the state duma has already approved those changes to the constitution while also passing a law that says the reforms must have the public support its president putin says hell consider running for a 5th term in 2024 he sa