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From The Times
September 28, 2005

Putin pledges to step down

By Jeremy Page
PRESIDENT PUTIN of Russia sought to burnish his demo- cratic credentials in a three-hour phone-in yesterday by pledging to share out Russia’s oil wealth and to step down in 2008.

Mr Putin denied rolling back democracy as he fielded 60 questions from Russian citizens, some of whom spoke to him live on television from their home towns, while others sent e-mails and text messages.

“It is not my goal to remain for ever in the Kremlin,” Mr Putin said, speaking from a specially adapted room in the Kremlin.

The phone-in was designed to look spontaneous but analysts said that it was stage-managed to smooth the way for the 2008 presidential election, when Mr Putin must step down under the Constitution.

Mr Putin, 52, said that there was no truth in persistent rumours that the Kremlin wants to change the Constitution to allow him a third term.

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