Russia marks the 16th anniversary of its Constitution on Saturday although it is not celebrated as a public holiday.

The Russian Constitution was adopted by a public referendum on December 12, 1993, with close to a 60% approval rate. It came into effect on December 25, replacing the Soviet Brezhnev-era Constitution of 1978.

The Constitution has been amended twice since then — in 2008 and 2009.

The amendments in 2008 cut the number of Russian regions from 89 to 83, while the changes in 2009 extended the presidential and parliamentary terms to six and five years, respectively.

The latest amendments were proposed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his first state of the nation address in November 2008.

Medvedev's proposal triggered speculation that the extension of the terms, which will apply to the next head of state and legislature, was a pretext for the return to office of his predecessor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

December 12 was last celebrated as a public holiday in Russia in 2005.

MOSCOW, December 12 (RIA Novosti)