text: Russia #39;s Upper House Passes Bill Tightening Putin #39;s Grip on &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt; Russia #39;s upper house of parliament has approved President Vladimir Putin #39;s controversial plan to end direct elections to choose regional governors, and allow the Kremlin to appoint them instead.
inputs: Russia #39;s Upper House Passes Bill Tightening Putin #39;s Grip on &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt; Russia #39;s upper house of parliament has approved President Vladimir Putin #39;s controversial plan to end direct elections to choose regional governors, and allow the Kremlin to appoint them instead.