In December 1993, the Russian Federation adopted a new constitution. This was seen by many in the West as a development that would lead to a new, democratic, law-based political order in Russia. Instead, it resulted in the establishment of the dictatorship of Vladimir Putin. I will attempt to explain some of the reasons I believe this happened. I will also consider the question of the similarities between the Russian constitution and the French constitution of 1958, especially the office of the presidency, with which it has often been compared.