Hundreds petition against amendments in Russia

Hundreds of Russians lined up outside the Presidential administration in Moscow Saturday to deposit a petition against the Constitutional amendments that will allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.

Around 500 people were queuing at the entrance of the Presidential office after a Left-Wing opposition movement called on their supporters to deposit the petition that claims the amendments illegal.

Putin on Friday ordered the amendments that would allow him to remain in power until 2036 to be put into the Russian Constitution after voters approved the changes during a week-long plebiscite.

According to a copy of the decree released by the Russian government, the amendments came into force on Saturday.

The changes allow Putin to run for two more six-year terms after his current one expires in 2024, but to also outlaw same-sex marriages, mentioning the "belief in God as a core value" and emphasize the primacy of Russian law over international norms.

Left-Wing movement leader Sergey Udaltsov said he does not recognise the legitimacy of the vote.

In his petition, he denies the official results and demands to hold a legitimate referendum on a 'complete' Constitutional reform.

The balloting concluded on Wednesday amid widespread reports of pressure on voters and other irregularities.

Kremlin critics have denounced the results of the plebiscite, 78% of "yes" votes, with a nearly 68% turnout, as falsified and undermining the regime's legitimacy.