Russia is to hold a nationwide vote on changes to its constitution proposed by president Vladimir Putin, that could tighten his grip on power .
Existing term limits bar Mr Putin from running for the presidency again and the decision to let Russians have their say signals his eagerness to secure public backing for reforms that could potentially allow him to extend his rule in a different role.
The process of rewriting the constitution has been pushed at breakneck speed since Mr Putin’s suggestion to overhaul it last month shocked the country’s political elite and prompted the resignation of his prime minister and longtime ally, Dmitry Medvedev