Russian electoral officials denied anti-war lawmaker Boris Nadezhdin permission to run for president next month on Thursday, sending a clear message to the Kremlin that it would not stand for any kind of popular protest against the invasion of Ukraine.
The Central Election Commission's decision makes it much simpler for President Vladimir Putin to secure a fifth term in office.
With his firm grip on Russia's political system, Putin is virtually certain to win the March 15-17 election against weak resistance from pro-Kremlin candidates, as per to South China Morning Post.
Russian Commission Disqualifies Nadezhdin
The Central Election Commission of Russia has dealt a blow to the opposition by disqualifying Boris Nadezhdin as a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, citing irregularities in the signatures submitted in support of his candidacy.
According to the commission, over 9,000 signatures out of more than 100,000 collected for Nadezhdin were deemed flawed, exceeding the allowable error rate by threefold, providing grounds for his disqualification.
In response to the decision, the Kremlin offered no additional commentary, stating that the commission adhered to established rules.
Nadezhdin's disqualification was widely anticipated, following earlier findings by an election commission working group that deemed 15% of the signatures invalid. Deputy Chair Nikolai Bulaev had also revealed the discovery of 11 "dead souls" among the signatures.
Nadezhdin, a seasoned politician with ties to both Kremlin insiders and opposition circles, had mounted a last-minute campaign to secure a spot on the ballot. His outspoken opposition to Putin's military operation in Ukraine garnered significant attention and support.
Putin's decision to begin the war was condemned by Nadezhdin in his election results system, who said that it pulled Russia back into the past. In spite of being disqualified, Nadezhdin reaffirmed the significance of his candidacy in the political scene by vowing to appeal the decision at the nation's top court, according to The Guardian.
Putin's Re-election Certain
While Nadezhdin's candidacy posed little threat to Putin's reelection, his campaign resonated with many Russians dissatisfied with the war in Ukraine. His disqualification leaves few avenues for opposition voices to be heard in the upcoming election, which is expected to see Putin secure another term in office.
The Kremlin's concern over Nadezhdin's unexpected popularity was reflected in a smear campaign orchestrated by state media. Political analysts suggest that Nadezhdin's growing support and outreach efforts to anti-war Russians abroad had become politically inconvenient for the Kremlin.
The disqualification of Nadezhdin follows the rejection of another anti-war candidate, Yekaterina Duntsova, by the elections commission. Duntsova's nomination was rejected due to alleged errors in her paperwork.
As Russia's electoral commission registers candidates for the polls, Putin is poised to secure another six-year term in the upcoming vote, solidifying his position as one of the longest-serving leaders in Russian history.
Despite concerns raised over Nadezhdin's legitimacy as a genuine opposition candidate, high-profile supporters of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny rallied behind his candidacy.
The exclusion of Nadezhdin reflects the difficulties came across by opposition voices in Russia's political scene as the Kremlin prepares for Putin to win the election handily, The Telegraph reported.
