Pro-peace Candidate Applies to Run in Election Against Vladimir Putin
- Metro.co.uk
Russia – After President Vladimir Putin announced that he will run again in the 2024 Russian Presidential election as an independent candidate, now he has "balanced" rival, named Yakaterina Duntsova.
Yekaterina Duntsova, who calls for peace in Ukraine, presented documents on Wednesday to Russia’s Central Election Commission to register as a candidate for the country’s 2024 presidential election.
The regional legislator hopes to challenge Putin, promoting her vision of a humane Russia that’s peaceful, friendly and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect.
Presiden Rusia, Vladimir Putin
- aljazeera.com
"She hoped the event would inspire her supporters," she said to Journalist in Moscow, on Wednesday as reported from Euronews.
If accepted as an independent candidate, the former journalist would next need to gather 300,000 signatures of support from at least 40 Russian regions.
“I feel a sense of accomplishment. We’ve done everything that we needed to do. We’ve made this step, and I think it should inspire people who support us,” she stated.
“I hope that I’ll at least be registered as a candidate. But, of course, collecting signatures is a huge job and I hope that people will be actively taking part.” she added.
Russia’s state parliament set March 17 as the date for the country’s 2024 presidential earlier this month, moving Putin a step closer to a fifth term in office.
The tight control that Putin has established over Russia’s political system during 24 years in power makes his reelection in March all but assured. Prominent critics who could challenge him are either in prison or living abroad, and most independent media have been banned.
Speaking to The Associated Press, Duntsova said she was afraid of the Kremlin’s previous targeting of opposition activists and protesters.
But she insisted it is necessary to present an alternative to Putin and his policies.
She said that if elected, her first presidential decree would mandate the release of Russia’s political prisoners, without giving names. In earlier statements, she spoke of her readiness to free Putin’s arch-enemy, the anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny.
Duntsova took her first steps toward candidate status Sunday when her run was endorsed by 500 supporters as required by Russian election law.
More than 500 people gathered in Moscow to back the bid, then a Russian news publication covering the opposition, protests, and human rights issues.
The meeting ultimately proceeded unimpeded, despite electricity at the venue briefly going out and security guards initially refusing to let some enter the building.
