Putin thanks Russians for support in vote

The Kremlin hailed it as a triumph.

Nearly 78 percent of voters have backed changes to Russia's constitution to allow Vladimir Putin to run for two more terms as president, meaning he could be in charge for another 16 years.

Final results came in on Wednesday (July 1) after a week-long vote.

Putin: "I've talked about the need to adopt changes to the country's Constitution. This is what provides for the refining of our political system and the securing of social guarantees, this is what preserves our sovereignty, territorial integrity, our spiritual, historical and moral values that bring generations together."

Not everyone voted for the changes to Russia's constitution, though.

"The best amendment would be Putin's resignation", his opponents chanted in St Petersburg on Wednesday (July 1).

And Putin had a message for them, too.

"I also understand those who voted against. It's true, we still have a lot of unsolved problems. People frequently come across injustice, callousness and indifference. Many people live in hardship."

The 67-year-old former KGB officer has ruled Russia for more than two decades as either president or prime minister.

His current term six-year term expires in 2024.

With the new changes, he could still be in charge in 2036, at the age of 83.

Election officials said turnout was 65 per cent.

But an independent monitoring group said the vote wasn't free and the outcome was flawed.

In Moscow on Thursday (July 2), opinion was mixed.

"In the first place, 80 percent is too much, so I don't trust it. All the people I know voted against that. So I don't trust this number."

"My attitude to the vote is very positive. I voted for the amendments to the constitution of the Russian Federation."

Putin says he has yet to decide on his political future.

Critics say they are sure he will attempt to stay in the Kremlin for as long as he can.