A former opposition lawmaker, Boris Nadezhdin, aged 60, has commenced an improbable campaign to challenge Vladimir Putin for the Russian presidency. Nadezhdin asserts that his appeal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine has significantly bolstered his candidacy.
Nadezhdin, who occasionally makes appearances on state TV to criticize the authorities, must secure 100,000 signatures from across Russia by the end of January in order to be recognized as a candidate.
His supporters claim that he already exceed 100,000 signatures, gaining substantial support in Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, he still requires more signatures from other regions of Russia, as they need to be spread across a minimum of 40 regions in the country.
Nadezhdin expressed confidence in being registered and admitted his surprise that his call to end Russia’s war in Ukraine prompted people to wait in long lines in the depths of the Russian winter, as well as overseas, to endorse him.
“Opposition to the war is widespread. People are weary of the ongoing conflict and desire to live in a normal, peaceful country. They are tired of the current state of affairs,” he told Reuters in an interview.
Nadezhdin also noted that people are signing in support not necessarily because they genuinely like him, but as a means to advocate for peace, to end the war, and to stop the loss of life. He appeared remarkably composed for someone taking on the formidable political machine of the Kremlin.
A small survey of voters interviewed by Reuters confirmed that he is attracting a general anti-war sentiment.
“I came here to express my anti-war stance. I believe this is the only way to take a stand at the moment. We don’t have any other option,” said Sergei Yasinsky, a 42-year-old resident of Moscow.
In Russia’s tightly controlled political environment, individuals have previously run against Putin and presented themselves as genuine opponents, only to later reveal that they were doing so as part of an arrangement with the authorities to create the illusion of competition.
The Kremlin has claimed that the upcoming election is a genuine political competition, and Putin, who enjoys around 80% approval rating, is genuinely popular.
Putin has already collected over three million signatures, exceeding the 300,000 threshold needed, according to his supporters. The Kremlin also contends that most Russians support what it considers to be Moscow’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
The election outcome is virtually certain, with Putin – in power as either president or prime minister for over two decades and in control of all state levers – poised to win another six-year term in what critics decry as a superficial imitation of democracy.
Currently, there are 11 presidential candidates. Critics argue that the Kremlin requires candidates like Nadezhdin to provide the appearance of competition, even though the result is a foregone conclusion.
Asked whether Nadezhdin poses a political threat to Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the notion, stating, “Not at all, we don’t see him as a rival. Any citizen has the right to run for president if they meet certain conditions.”
If Nadezhdin is permitted to run and secures a small portion of the vote, the Kremlin can cite it as evidence of weak opposition to the war in Ukraine. He also serves as a focal point for war critics, including some of the wives of mobilized soldiers, to vent their frustrations.
Many opponents of the war have fled Russia or have been subjected to hefty fines or imprisonment under stringent laws that mandate lengthy jail terms for spreading “fake news” about the Russian army.
Nadezhdin insists that he is cautious, stating, “I’m not attempting to break the law or incite unrest. I’m acting within the boundaries of the law. I fail to see how they could deny my registration. I want to reform the country and make Russia a peaceful, free nation.”
He also joked about taking steps to safeguard his personal security and discussed his electoral prospects in a manner that few in modern Russia would dare.
“Did you see lines forming outside Putin’s headquarters? Did you see crowds braving the frost to express their support for Putin? It did not happen,” he remarked. “It seems to me that since this campaign started, even Putin himself is not entirely certain of victory.”
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Gareth Jones)
