the lady doth protest too much, methinks

If nominated, I will not accept; if drafted, I will not run; if elected I will not serve.

The March 2008 presidential vote is seen as a key test for Russia's political system, and any change in the law to permit Putin to stay in the job would be seen by the West as a further erosion of democracy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Mironov's proposal, saying that Putin remains opposed to any changes in the constitution that would extend his term.

"We proceed from the president's position that it is pointless to change the constitution to extend the presidential term or the number of terms," he told The Associated Press. "This stance of the president remains unchanged."

Somehow, I'm guessing Vladimir would serve...if they asked him really, really nice.