In 2020, Russia underwent constitutional changes, aimed at possible extension of Vladimir Putin’s term in office until 2036. Top state officials openly declares the goal of “cementing” Russia’s political landscape in order to avoid the threat of major changes. However, Russian authoritarianism recently faced with numerous challenges of rising public discontent amid poor institutional performance. How the Kremlin respond to these challenges and to what extent long-term regime continuity is a feasible goal for Russia? These critical issues of Russian politics will be discussed in a broader comparative perspective.
 
Vladimir Gel’man is Professor of Political Science in the European University at St.Petersburg and Professor of Russian Politics in the University of Helsinki. His books include Authoritarian Russia: Analyzing Post-Soviet Regime Changes (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2015) and Authoritarian Modernization in Russia: Ideas, Institutions, and Policies (Routledge, 2017). He also authored scholarly articles in Europe-Asia Studies, Post-Soviet Affairs, International Political Science Review, East European Politics, and other journals.