MOSCOW: Russia's elections commission has never studied the question of a third term for President Vladimir Putin, elections chief Vladimir Churov said in an interview published Wednesday.

The question “has never been considered in the Central Elections Commission. We act exclusively on the basis of existing legislation and have neither the right nor the desire to change the law,” Churov said in an interview published on the commission's website.

Asked whether Putin could return earlier than 2012 if the president elected in 2008 could not carry out his duties, Churov said: “He could, as could any other citizen over the age of 35.”Russia's constitution limits the number of consecutive presidential terms to two.—AFP