The plan to extend the presidential term in Russia from four to six years brings the country closer to many of its autocratic and not-so-savoury neighbours, including Uzbekistan.
In 2002 Uzbekistan's authoritarian leader, Islam Karimov, right, extended his term in office from five to seven years. Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan also have, or are soon to have, seven-year presidential terms of office.
In Europe the trend is the other way. In 2000 France cut its seven-year term, served by presidents including François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac, to five years after a referendum.
Finland and Venezuela, Russia's ally and fellow opponent of US power, both have six-year presidencies.
