Former Russian president Boris Yeltsin and his wife Naina. Russia's first post-Soviet leader Yeltsin issued a veiled warning that President Vladimir Putin's decision to hand sweeping new powers to the Kremlin in the wake of the Beslan hostage crisis could roll back democratic freedoms. (AFP)

Former Russian president Boris Yeltsin has made a veiled criticism of his successor's decision to increase his powers after the Beslan tragedy.

Mr Yeltsin said that the rolling back of democratic rights in Russia would be tantamount to victory for terrorists.

President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced plans to abolish direct elections for regional governors and change voting rules for parliament.

The proposals may need constitutional change, but Mr Putin denies such plans.

However, he said the changes were important to bolster central authority after a series of terrorist acts in recent weeks culminating in the school siege in which more than 300 people died.

Meanwhile Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, said the chamber would discuss lifting a moratorium on the death penalty for cases of terrorism introduced by Mr Yeltsin.

"This question has been raised by many members of society, citizens and deputies," he said, adding that he supported the moratorium. "The situation compels us to return again and again to this topic."

In an interview to be published in Friday's edition of the newspaper Moscow News, Mr Yeltsin said Russia should not move away from the spirit or the letter of the constitution he introduced in 1993, and which was approved in a national referendum .

"The stifling of freedoms and the rolling back of democratic rights will mean, among other things, that the terrorists will have won," he said.

The 73-year-old former president said he expected Russia "to stand shoulder to shoulder with other civilised nations" in the fight against terrorism.

    (Agencies)

veiled : muted or unclear（隱藏的）

tantamount：being essentially equal to something（等價(jià)的）

moratorium: a legally authorized postponement before some obligation must be discharged（延期償付）

referendum: a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate（公民投票）