The Kremlin’s decision to block the candidacy of Boris Nadezhdin, a liberal Russian politician seeking to run in the presidential election on March 17, was seen as a strong signal that no opposition to the invasion of Ukraine would be tolerated. This move paves an easier path for President Vladimir Putin to secure a fifth term in power. Nadezhdin, a local legislator, failed to meet the requirement of gathering at least 100,000 valid signatures of supporters, as more than 9,000 of the submitted signatures were deemed invalid.
Nadezhdin, known for openly advocating for an end to the war in Ukraine and for initiating a dialogue with the West, had gained support from thousands of Russians across the country. He emphasized the need to start peace talks with Kyiv and shift Russia’s stance towards working with the West, rather than being in confrontation with it. Despite the rejection, Nadezhdin vowed to appeal his disqualification in court, asserting that he represents the voices of hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens who endorsed his candidacy.
Notably, most opposition figures who might challenge Putin have either been imprisoned or exiled abroad, and the vast majority of independent Russian media outlets have been banned. The Central Election Commission indicated that the upcoming ballot will feature only four names, the fewest number of candidates since 2008. Three candidates running against Putin next month were nominated by parties represented in parliament and did not need to collect signatures. The Kremlin’s spokesperson stated that Nadezhdin is not viewed as a rival by the Kremlin.
The refusal to register Nadezhdin as a candidate is unlikely to lead to protests in the streets, as demonstrations have been rare in Russia since antiwar rallies in February 2022 resulted in mass arrests. Navalny, a prominent opposition leader, called on supporters to demonstrate their opposition to Putin by voting at a specific time on election day. Navalny’s top strategist emphasized that the decision to reject Nadezhdin aims to sow despair, but urged people to come out and vote against Putin.
In summary, the decision to block Nadezhdin’s candidacy underscores the limited space for opposition in Russia’s political landscape, as Putin’s reelection appears all but certain in the absence of substantial challengers.
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