Gog and Magog in the news

[Shammu]

Georgia Says Russia Has Massed 7,000 Troops in South Ossetia

By Helena Bedwell

Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Russia has deployed as many as 7,000 soldiers in the separatist region of South Ossetia, leading Georgia to suspect ``further provocations'' following a five-day war in August, a Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman said.

Shota Utiashvili said Georgia has been monitoring ``suspicious movements'' by Russia's military in South Ossetia, the object of Georgia's war with Russia. ``Up to 2,000 soldiers have entered the region which, added to troops already in the area, make at least 7,000,'' he said by telephone today in the capital Tbilisi.

The South Ossetian government denied Georgia's claim about a Russian troop buildup. ``What Mikheil Saakashvili's government says about us and our Russian allies is nonsense,'' spokeswoman Irina Gagloyeva said by telephone from the regional capital Tskhinvali. ``Some troops are here, but we feel safe with them around since we face continual provocations from the Georgian side.''

Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, from Georgia on Aug. 26. Only Nicaragua has followed suit. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sept. 8 that his decision to recognize the regions was ``final'' and ``irrevocable.'' Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said the following day that Russia had agreed to deploy about 3,800 soldiers in each region.

A European Union-brokered cease-fire agreement that ended the fighting in Georgia requires Russia to remove its forces to their pre-conflict positions. Russia sent about 10,000 soldiers into Georgia during the fighting, according to state-run news service RIA Novosti.

Under a subsequent deal reached by Medvedev and his counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy of France, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, Russia agreed to withdraw its forces from ``Georgian territory outside South Ossetia and Abkhazia,'' Sarkozy said on Sept. 8. He said the agreement was ``the maximum we could get.''

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said on Oct. 20 that Russia had failed to meet its obligations under the cease-fire.

Georgia Says Russia Has Massed 7,000 Troops in South Ossetia 

[Shammu]

Russia test-fires ballistic missile

Wed Oct 22, 8:29 am ET

MOSCOW – The Russian military says it has successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile as part of regular efforts to check the readiness of Soviet-built missiles.

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces spokesman Alexander Vovk says the RS-18 Stiletto missile was launched Wednesday from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Vovk said in a statement the launch was intended to confirm the missile's reliability as part of efforts to extend the lifetime of this type of missile.

Russia's strategic forces have conducted regular test launches of Soviet-built ballistic missiles to check their performance. The military has repeatedly extended the lifetime of Soviet-built weapons as the government lacks the funds to replace them quickly with new weapons.

Russia test-fires ballistic missile

[Shammu]

Russia Sends Out The Nuke Bombers For Week Long Exercises
by Martin Sieff
Washington (UPI) Oct 22, 2008

Russia's front-line long-range strategic nuclear bombers have carried out a new series of major weeklong exercises, the Russian air force announced last week.

The operations were carried out within the framework of the Stability-2008 strategic command and staff exercises, from Oct. 6-12 under the command of three-star Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, the commander in chief of the Russian air force. More than 30 bombers were involved, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

"A total of 40 sorties have been flown with an aggregate of 300 flying hours clocked," according to Maj. Gen. Pavel Androsov, commander of Russian Long-Range Aviation Forces.

The Stability-2008 operations have been carried out all over the huge Russian federation and the former Soviet republic of Belarus to improve the strategic deployment of the Russian armed forces, including the nuclear triad of land-, submarine- and air-launched nuclear missiles. They began on Sept. 22 and were scheduled to conclude Tuesday, Oct. 21, the report said.

The Oct. 6-12 component of the exercise involved Tupolev Tu-160 White Swans (NATO designation Blackjack) and Tupolev Tu-95MS (NATO designation Bear-H). The aircraft operated carrying full combat payloads and, as planned, fired all of their standard-issue X-55 air-launched cruise missiles -- ALCMs. It was the first time cruise missiles had been live-fired from Russian bombers in major tactical exercises in nearly a quarter-century since 1984, during the last major flare-up of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Tupolev Tu-95MS Bears have a payload of six KH-55 (NATO designation AS-15 Kent) long-range cruise missiles, and the gigantic Tu-160s, with their 99,000-pound payload -- twice that of a U.S. B-2 Stealth bomber -- has a payload of 12 KH-55s, RIA Novosti said.

The Russian air force described the scale of the Oct. 6-Oct. 12 operations as unprecedented, RIA Novosti said. The maneuvers also included Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire strategic bombers, air superiority fighters, interceptors and aerial tankers, the report said.

RIA Novosti said the Russian air force was believed to currently be operating 16 Tu-160 Blackjack bombers, 40 Tu-95MS Bear bombers and 141 Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers.

In an earlier RIA Novosti report previously cited in these columns, the former Russian air force commander, four-star General of the Army Pyotr Deynekin said Tu-95 Bear bombers had carried out live-firing of all their cruise missiles only on one previous occasion in all their operational service, in 1984.

"Tu-160 bombers have never done this, because it is very expensive," the general said.

Aerojet wins Kill vehicle DACS contract
Aerojet, a GenCorp company, announced Oct. 13 it had won a contract for the Kill Vehicle -- KV -- Commonality Pathfinder Divert and Attitude Control System -- DACS -- from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

The Sacramento, Calif.-based Aerojet said its propulsion system could direct the KV through the firing of individual thrusters as the KV was heading to hit a ballistic missile or its warhead. The company will now construct and perform integration work on a test KV DACS. Then the DACS system and the reliability of its technical components, what the company calls "component technical maturity," will be checked out in a static hot-fire test before it is incorporated into a KV configuration and simulated flight test.

"Aerojet is proud to offer more than 20 years of hardware development, qualification and production under MDA programs," said Aerojet's Manager of Programs Warren Yasuhara. "Our experience results in high mission assurance and a low-cost approach for future applications."

Boeing wins new deal for more ATL tests
Boeing announced Oct. 14 it had won a new $30 million U.S. Air Force contract to carry on with tests of the Advanced Tactical Laser.

The company said in a statement that it had signed a new Extended User Evaluation contract with the Air Force's Air Armament Center on Sept. 30 "to operate and maintain the ATL system, enabling the Air Force and other potential users to assess ATL's capabilities."

Boeing's ATL is a Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules military transport aircraft that has been adapted to carry a high-energy chemical laser and beam control system. The ATL is to be subjected to a new program of ground and flight tests during the EUE process. Boeing described its new EUE contract as "a follow on" to the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration contract that was awarded previously to Boeing to create and perform integration work on the ATL system.

"The Extended User Evaluation will expand the envelope of the Advanced Tactical Laser and further demonstrate how this ultra-precision engagement capability can significantly reduce collateral damage," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "ATL has the potential to perform a wide range of important missions for the war fighter."

"The Extended User Evaluation will give the war fighter the opportunity to conduct hands-on operation of ATL and determine how this transformational laser-gunship technology can be integrated into the battlefield," said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Directed Energy Systems.

The ATL system is designed to hit its designated targets with pinpoint accuracy, vastly reducing the dangers of collateral damage, especially in heavily populated urban environments.

Boeing's ATL industry team has L-3 Communications/Brashear, the company that constructed the laser turret, and HYTEC Inc., the firm that constructed some of the structural elements of the weapon system.

Russia Sends Out The Nuke Bombers For Week Long Exercises

[Shammu]

Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:49am EDT

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will offer to share its air defense expertise with Cuba when a military delegation visits the Caribbean island this week, Interfax news agency reported on Monday.

"The Russian and Cuban military will exchange experience in organizing tactical air defense and in training officers," Interfax quoted Russian Land Forces spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying.

The two sides will "discuss the prospect of training Cuban servicemen at the tactical air defense academies and training centers in Russia, using upgraded Russian-made military hardware," Interfax quoted him as saying.

The delegation, led by the chief of Russia's tactical air defense headquarters, Lieutenant General Alexander Maslov, will also look at "ways to strengthen relations between the Russian armed forces and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba," Konashenkov was quoted as saying.

The delegation will be in Cuba from Monday until November 3, Konashenkov was quoted as saying. Reuters could not immediately reach Konashenkov for comment.

In 1962, Cuba became the focus of the deepest crisis of the Cold War after the Soviet Union installed missiles there, prompting a standoff with Washington. The island's government remains hostile to the United States.

In the past few months, Moscow has stepped up contacts with both Cuba and Venezuela, another South American critic of the United States.

Russia military offers Cuba air defense aid

[Shammu]

Russia opposes EU monitors in Georgian rebel regions
28 Oct 2008, 1608 hrs IST, AFP

SAINT PETERSBURG: Russia opposes the deployment of European Union monitors in two Georgian rebel provinces and will enforce security there itself, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"Security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia is assured by Russian military contingents after the recognition of their independence by Russia," Lavrov said at a press conference with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

"As far as the European Union monitors are concerned, we believe the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan should be respected. It says they should be deployed in areas adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Lavrov said.

The European monitoring mission, comprising 225 unarmed observers, deployed in Georgia on October 1 as part of a ceasefire agreement agreed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to end an August war between Georgia and Russia.

The EU has called for its monitors to be allowed into the rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to monitor the ceasefire, but Moscow and rebel leaders have so far refused.

Russia and the breakaway regions have criticised the monitoring mission, with Moscow accusing observers of taking a "light view" of alleged ceasefire violations by the Georgians.

Russian forces moved into Georgia on August 8 to repel a Georgian military attempt to retake South Ossetia, whose breakaway administration had long enjoyed extensive support from Moscow.

Sporadic violence has continued despite the ceasefire, under which Russian forces later withdrew to within South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Moscow has recognised as independent states.

Russia opposes EU monitors in Georgian rebel regions

[Shammu]

Russia wants presence at Czech missile defense sites - Lavrov

■ YEREVAN (RIA Novosti) - Russia's foreign minister said on Monday that the country will only lift its objections to a U.S. anti-missile radar in the Czech Republic if Russian observers are permanently posted at the facilities.

"A one-off visit would not change anything, but only increase our suspicions," Sergei Lavrov told journalists.

The agreement to station a U.S. tracking radar in the Czech Republic was signed on July 8 by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.

On September 19, Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signed the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The pact governs the deployment of U.S. military personnel at the radar station.

The radar is part of a planned missile shield system which would also include the deployment of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. The U.S. says it needs the Central European shield to protect against attacks by "rogue states" such as Iran.

The plans are fiercely opposed by Russia, which sees the missile shield as a threat to its national security and the international system of nuclear deterrence.

Russia wants presence at Czech missile defense sites - Lavrov

[Shammu]

Russia sees clear path for Iran reactor launch: report

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia sees no political obstacles to the start-up of the first reactor at Iran's Russian-built nuclear plant at Bushehr, a senior Russian diplomat was quoted as saying Monday.

"From a political point of view, there are no problems with this," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the official ITAR-TASS news agency after visiting Tehran over the weekend.

"Right now, the final stages of preparing the station for launch are under way," he said.

"Among the six parties, there is a full understanding that the work at Bushehr has no proliferation risks," he said, referring to the six countries that have been negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program.

Russia is among the six countries talking with Iran over the nuclear issue, along with the United States, Britain, China, France and Germany. Moscow has resisted calls for tougher sanctions on Tehran.

Russia wants presence at Czech missile defense sites - Lavrov

[Shammu]

Libya’s Qaddafi plans visit to Russia

24/10/2008

Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi is due to visit Moscow October 31 for talks with President Dmitry Medvedev on arms purchases and other deals, Russian business daily Vedomosti reported Monday.

The Libyan leader last visited Russia in 1985 in the days of the Soviet Union. Ties between Tripoli and Moscow have again warmed since Vladimir Putin visited Libya last April shortly after he left the Kremlin.

On Tuesday, Russian Fo­reign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed the report and said that Qaddafi will visit Moscow in the near future. "The visit is being planned and the sides will coordinate and announce a date [for the visit]," Lavrov told reporters.

Topics for the visit will include possible delivery of Russian Su-30 fighter planes and advanced T-90 battle tanks, the report said, quoting an unnamed foreign ministry source and another source in the state technology agency.

Russia could also sell Libya Tor-M2E air missile defence systems and spare parts for Russian-made weapons it already possesses, it said.

Recent contacts between Libya and Russia have centred on Tripoli's 4.6 billion dollar (3.4 billion-euro) debt to Moscow which could be settled through a variety of business contracts, the report said.

In addition to possible weapons sales, the largest of the contracts under con-sideration is the construction by Russia's rail monopoly of a 554-kilometre (344-mile) rail line between the Libyan cities of Surt and Banghazi.

That project was valued at around 2.2 billion euros (2.9 billion dollars), the paper said.

Russian energy giant Gazprom has also signed a provisional agreement with Libya on establishment of a joint venture that would develop projects in Libya and other countries in Africa, Vedomosti said.

Libya’s Qaddafi plans visit to Russia

[Shammu]

 Russia to join interfaith dialogue efforts – Medvedev
By Muhammad Kinani
28 October 2008

JEDDAH – Russia has vowed to strengthen its ties with the Muslim world and advance the cause of the interfaith-dialogue sponsored by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in a speech delivered on his behalf by President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev at the Conference Palace here Monday night.

“As an observer at the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Russia is determined to widen its effective cooperation with the Muslim World,” Medvedev said in his speech.

The speech of the Russian president came within the activities of ‘Russia and the Muslim World: the 4th Forum of the Strategic Vision Group’ held under the auspices of Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The thee-day forum, organized by the Islamic Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was themed “King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz’s Initiative for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue: A New Vision for International Relations.”

The forum was launched after King Abdullah said Saturday he would attend a meeting at the United Nations (UN) next month to discuss his initiative to promote interfaith dialogue.

Russia’s idea to create a UN Consultative Council for Religions will enhance the ethical principles of world politics and widen interfaith communication and dialogue of world cultures, he added.

“I am confident that the effective cooperation between Russia and the Muslim World will also help create a more just system of international relations where power loses its political clout to resolve conflicts,” he concluded.

Dr. Nizar Obaid Madani, the Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that dialogue is a basis to human existence.

The world is witnessing many military and intellectual conflicts, plaguing the world with violence and hatred instead of finding a common ground and mutual interests towards a better and safer future for the coming generations,” Madani said.

He pointed out that the divine messages and world cultures have many things in common as they promote moral principles and abhor injustice, violence, and destruction of the human and his environment, he said. “So, followers of Divine messages and human civilizations should have visions and solutions to the challenges threatening their co-existence,” he added.

Reflecting on King Abdullah’s call for dialogue among world nations, Madani quoted the King’s words in a previous dialogue conference as saying “If we want any dialogue to be a success, we should focus on what brings us together, mainly: deep belief in God and moral values that make the core foundation of religions and philosophies.”

Madani said that with these words, the King has established his vision for an effective dialogue to achieve a peaceful coexistence.
Madani also added that the Madrid Conference has given the start signal to combat extremism through spreading the culture of dialogue and reinforcing its principles among nations, especially at these uncertain times.

Russia to join interfaith dialogue efforts

[HisDaughter]

Libya offers to host Russian military base: report   

Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, who visits Moscow Friday for the first time since 1985, will offer to host a Russian naval base in his north African country, a Russian newspaper reported.

"Libya is ready to host a Russian naval military base," the Kommersant reported, citing a source close to the preparations for Kadhafi's first visit here since the days of the Soviet Union.

The base could be located at the port of Benghazi, the source said.

"The Russian military presence will be a guarantee of non-aggression against Libya from the United States, which is not in a hurry to embrace Kadhafi despite gestures of reconciliation," the newspaper said.

Kadhafi is scheduled to visit Russia from Friday to Sunday.

Relations between Russia and Libya, a former pariah state that has pushed to get back into the international fold in recent years, showed signs of significant warming this year after a long chill.

Earlier this month, a Russian warship docked in Tripoli as part of a global show of force that is to include joint naval exercises between Russia and Venezuela in the Caribbean in November.

In April, during a visit to Tripoli by then-president Vladimir Putin, Moscow agreed to cancel billions of dollars of Libyan Soviet-era debt in exchange for multi-billion-dollar contracts with Russian companies.

During his visit, Russian gas giant Gazprom signed a cooperation agreement with Libya's national energy company while Russia's rail monopoly signed a 2.2-billion-euro contract to build a railway line in Libya.

During the Cold War, Libya bought many of its weapons from Moscow.

[Shammu]

Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, who visits Moscow Friday for the first time since 1985, will offer to host a Russian naval base in his north African country, a Russian newspaper reported.

Biblical prophecy is in action, there is no escape for Libya. This is a exciting time to be alive, watch prophecy happening right before our eyes.

[HisDaughter]

Putin may return to Kremlin in 2009, extend rule to 2021
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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev could resign from his post in 2009 to pave the way for Vladimir Putin to return to the Kremlin, Vedomosti newspaper reported on Thursday, citing an unidentified source close to the Kremlin.

Medvedev Wednesday proposed increasing the presidential term to six years from four years, a step the newspaper said was part of a plan drawn up by Vladislav Surkov, who serves as Medvedev's first deputy chief of staff.

Under the plan, Medvedev could implement changes to the constitution and unpopular social reforms "so that Putin could return to the Kremlin for a longer period," the newspaper said.

"Under this scenario Medvedev could resign early citing changes to the constitution and then presidential elections could take place in 2009," the newspaper said, citing the unidentified source close to the Kremlinl.

The paper said Putin, who is currently prime minister, could then rule for two six year terms, so from 2009 to 2021. The paper cited Putin's spokesman as saying he saw no reason for Putin to return to power in 2009.

Investors, already jittery over the impact of the financial crisis on Russia's economic boom, are trying to work out who is really in charge of Russia, the biggest question for those seeking to ascertain political risk.

They are seeking any details on how the current set up -- with Medvedev as president and Putin as prime minister -- could change. During Medvedev's speech Wednesday the Russian stock market erased most of the gains it made earlier in the day.

[HisDaughter]

Russia determined to broaden interaction with Islamic world - Medvedev
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President Dmitry Medvedev has sent greetings to the fourth meeting of the Russia - Islamic World strategic vision group in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Kremlin reported on Tuesday.

"Russia's developing cooperation with the Islamic states remains highly dynamic. Your Group is playing no small part in this," Medvedev writes.

"Russia, a country with observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference, intends to abide firmly to its course to expand active interaction with the Islamic world. I think in connection with this, that a broad discussion of the initiative to further develop interregional dialogue, proposed by King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saudi of Saudi Arabia, is of crucial importance, taking into account a significant role the religious factor is playing in international affairs," he said.

"I am also convinced, that the implementation of the Russia-proposed idea of forming a consultative council of religions under UN aegis, will help strengthen the moral principles of world politics, facilitate deeper inter-confessional communication and, in a broader context, promote the dialogue of civilizations," the Russian president writes.

"The illusion of the uni-polar world is becoming a thing of the past in front of our eyes. Forums like yours can contribute significantly to the search for ways to make the situation in the world healthier and to attain a new level of global partnership," Medvedev said.

"I am convinced that Russia's active interaction with the Islamic world will help build a fairer system of international relations, where the factor of force will finally stop playing the role of universal instrument of settling all emerging problems," he said.

The message of greetings was read out at the meeting by Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiyev on behalf of the Russian president.

[Shammu]

Russian leader Medvedev heading to Cuba, Venezuela
Fri Nov 14, 6:40 am ET

MOSCOW – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev plans to travel this month to Cuba and Venezuela, which have increasing military and trade ties with Moscow.

The U.S. has objected to Russia's greater links with the two countries that have antagonistic relations with Washington.

Medvedev will visit Cuba on Nov. 27, the Kremlin press service said. He will also visit Brazil during the trip.

The Soviet Union was a stalwart supporter of Cuban leader Fidel Castro during the Cold War. Under Hugo Chavez, Venezuela has moved to buy millions of dollars in Russian weaponry and invited Russian energy giants to drill in the country's oil fields.

A Russian naval flotilla is on its way to the Caribbean to hold joint military exercises with Venezuelan forces.

Russian leader Medvedev heading to Cuba, Venezuela

[Shammu]

Russian lawmakers back extending presidential term
By DAVID NOWAK, Associated Press Writer David Nowak, Associated Press Writer Fri Nov 14, 4:02 pm ET

MOSCOW – Russian lawmakers moved to lengthen the presidential term from four to six years on Friday with a vote that opponents called a step toward Vladimir Putin's return to power.

The change means that the powerful prime minister could serve a total of 20 years as president if he returns to the position as many expect.

The office of Russian president "already has more power than the General Secretary (of the U.S.S.R.), the czar and the pharaoh together," Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov complained shortly before the State Duma voted 388-58 to approve the constitutional amendment. It faces two more votes in the Duma, or lower house of parliament, and appears certain to be enacted. The Communists were the only Duma faction to vote against it.

Political analysts and Kremlin foes predict that President Dmitry Medvedev could step down as early as next year, making his former patron acting president and triggering elections in which Putin would run and likely win.

Vladimir Ryzhkov, a liberal democratic critic of the Kremlin and former member of parliament, described the amendment as just the first step in Putin's choreographed return to the presidency.

"Absolutely, I believe that," Ryzhkov said. "There is a small group of people in the Kremlin who want power for life."

State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov denied that Medvedev planned to leave office before his term ends in 2012.

"Everyone must work to the end of his term," he said, according to the state-owned Russian news agency RIA-Novosti.

Asked whether the longer term was intended to benefit Putin in an interview broadcast on state television earlier this week, Medvedev avoided the question.

"I can say only one thing for sure, and that is that the new terms will benefit only whoever is elected to the office of President once the necessary amendments have entered into force," Medvedev said.

The former chess champion Garry Kasparov called the proposed change "a cynical message to the Russian population and the rest of the world. This regime — this clique — is saying, 'We are staying no matter what.'"

Kasparov joined about 100 opposition activists at a Moscow demonstration. They chanted and held banners with slogans such as "Hands off the Constitution!" and "Enough lies, enough blood, enough Putin!"

Putin stepped down as president in May after serving two four-year terms. He was succeeded by Medvedev, a lawyer and former aide.

In the run-up to the March presidential elections, Putin refused repeated calls to seek a constitutional amendment allowing him to run for a third consecutive term, saying the constitution was sacrosanct.

But Medvedev proposed extending the presidential term last week in his first state-of-the-nation address this month. Putin had earlier endorsed the same idea.

Supporters say the change will bring Russia in line with other Western democracies that have presidential terms of similar length.

But the speed with which the proposal is sailing through parliament has left many wondering whether Putin's allies are already preparing for Medvedev's departure.

If Putin is planning an early return, he may find his path eased by the current financial crisis, some observers say.

Putin is widely credited with having rescued Russia from one crisis — the aftermath of Russia's default on its debts in 1998.

The legislation also requires approval by the upper house of parliament and by two-thirds of Russia's regional legislatures. The Kremlin-backed United Russia party — led by Putin — dominates all of Russia's legislatures.

Ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky said the measure would bring Russia "into conformity" with other nations, such as France, where the president is elected for five years.

But Zhirinovsky suggested other legislators were merely rubber-stamping the Kremlin's proposal.

"The only thing that makes me upset is that had the president offered to cut the term to three years, we would have applauded and voted the same way," he said.

Lawmakers also voted to extend Duma terms from four to five years.

Russian lawmakers back extending presidential term