The Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, has scheduled the country's next presidential elections for March 17, 2024.

The decision to schedule the presidential elections for March 17 next year was taken unanimously by the senators, according to the international press.

Although he has not yet expressed his intention to run again, Vladimir Putin, 71, is eligible to run for two more six-year terms.

The decision "practically starts the presidential campaign," said Federation Council chairwoman Valentina Matvienko

In power since 2000, Putin could, on test, remain in the Kremlin until 2036 thanks to a controversial constitutional reform passed in 2020.