title: The Government of the Russian Federation
abstract: According to its Constitution, the Russian Federation is a democratic, federative, multi-ethnic state. The President is elected for a term of six years by universal direct suffrage, for no more than two consecutive terms. In March 2014 Russia annexed two territories internationally recognized as constituting parts of Ukraine—the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol City—bringing the de facto membership of the Federation to 85 territories. President Yeltsin strongly advocated decentralization within