Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has proposed a new law restoring the direct election of regional governors, as part of a series of political reforms promised after mass post-election protests last month.

Under the bill, the Kremlin says Russian citizens would choose their regional governors running independently or on a party ticket for a term of five years. In the current system, the Kremlin chooses new governors from a shortlist provided by the ruling party. That appointment is then endorsed by the local parliament.

Russia abolished the direct election of governors in 2004, during the presidency of Vladimir Putin, in a move that was sharply criticized by opposition leaders. Both Mr. Putin and Mr. Medvedev have since defended the move as necessary to preserve stability against separatism and crime.

Kremlin moves to ease election controls were spurred by mass opposition protests across Russia against alleged fraud in parliamentary elections in early December.

Demonstrators vented anger over widespread allegations of vote fraud and by a plan under which President Medvedev agreed to leave office at the end of his term to clear the way for Mr. Putin to regain the presidency in upcoming elections. Mr. Mevedev has since said he would not accept appointment to the prime minister post under a new Putin presidency.