[GSlob]

According to the basic mechanisms of arbitrary power exercise, after the expiration of his term at the top he could continue existing only on his successor's sufferance, and might be better off settling in Lukashenko's Belarus or in China. And such sufferance would not include the possibility of return to power.

[Destro]

I don't see Russia operating under like either of those nations even if Putin never comes back into office. I think after Yeltsin was humilated by Clinton over Kosovo the military and the FSB decided that they will no longer allow the nation to be ruled in such a way. I tend to think of it as the Russan version of the Electoral College.

The easing out of Yeltsin (and the so called slide away from democracy that some Russian detractors mention) came out of what Clinton did in Kosovo as Chechnya was also heating up.