Lawmakers in Russia's autonomous republic of Tatarstan on December 23 voted overwhelmingly in favor of constitutional amendments that allow the abolition of the title of president of the republic -- in line with a directive from Moscow.
The amendments will come into force next month. However, under transitional arrangements approved by legislators the current president, Rustam Minnikhanov, will be allowed to complete his term that runs until 2025.
Under the new provision, the name of the regional leader will be head (rais) of the Republic of Tatarstan.
The move was prompted by legislation proposed by Russia's State Duma and signed into force by President Vladimir Putin last year that provides for abolishing the title of president of autonomous republics with the more generic title of head.
Minnikhanov was the last regional leader in Russia to use the title of president since the fall of Soviet Union in 1991.
All of the Russian Federation's ethnic republics, except Tatarstan, had changed the titles of their leaders from president to head in recent years, while regional parliaments have lost their independence in adopting laws and regulations.
In October last year, Tatarstan's parliament first voted to reject the Duma bill on grounds that it would violate the autonomous republic's constitution.
But on December 23, Minnikhanov himself told lawmakers that he favored the change, arguing that opposing it would undermine the unity of the Russian Federation at a time when Moscow is involved in a war with Ukraine.
U.S.-based analyst Paul Goble, an expert on post-Soviet countries, believes that Moscow, "under the guise of war" decided to finally liquidate the autonomy of regional leaders.
“This is certainly a sign that the Kremlin wants to do away with the republics and is using the war in Ukraine as a cover for this," Goble told RFE/RL.
"I suspect they have no choice but to submit to the will of Moscow. But taking extra steps is an act of humiliating surrender and not necessary," he said.