Interfax: Shakhrai: even minor adjustment of constitution may open “Pandora’s box” of political instability

ST. PETERSBURG. Nov 14 (Interfax) – The Russian constitution is still up-to-date and does not need any alterations, constitution co-author, merited lawyer of Russia Sergei Shakhrai declared.

“The constitution of 1993 is 20 years old, which means this fundamental document is still up-to-date and has creative potential,” he told the audience at a conference, “Modern Constitutionalism. Conclusions and Prospects”, in St. Petersburg on Thursday.

Shakhrai warned the Russian political elite against “editing and revising” the constitution.

“Successful countries and responsible elites worldwide which are interested in preservation of the state integrity are seeking to avoid revisions of their constitutions because even a minor and formal interference may delegitimize the fundamental law and open “Pandora’s box” of political instability,” he continued.

“It is extremely important for Russian political elites to learn how to use the existent creative potential of the current constitution of the Russian Federation for developing political results without “editing” or revising the fundamental laws,” Shakhrai stressed.