Boris Nadezhdin, a candidate hoping to challenge Vladimir Putin in Russia’s upcoming presidential election, expressed his belief that the decision to go to war in Ukraine was a “big mistake” during a discussion with the wives of soldiers on Thursday.
Nadezhdin represents a small center-right party called Civic Initiative, which currently holds no seats in parliament. He is working to gather 100,000 signatures from people across Russia to officially run against Putin in the election.
Speaking to the soldiers’ wives, Nadezhdin expressed his view that the war, termed a “special military operation” by the Kremlin, was a significant error made by Putin, and that the consequences would be severe.
He also emphasized the sacrifice made by soldiers on the front lines, stating, “We want them simply to come back,” in acknowledgment of the risks they endure.
While Putin’s supporters are confident in his re-election, his most well-known opponent, Alexei Navalny, is serving lengthy jail terms, leaving little competition. Critics argue that the election process is a facade of democracy, intended to create the illusion of competition within a system where none truly exists.
The Kremlin insists that Putin, aged 71, maintains genuine popular support and will secure another six-year term in office.
There are doubts regarding Nadezhdin’s ability to gather the required 100,000 signatures, as well as how far he will be permitted to voice his criticisms of the war. Russia’s laws now include harsh penalties for “discrediting” the armed forces or spreading false information about them, particularly following the country’s military involvement in Ukraine.
Nadezhdin has pledged to present a plan for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, and has voiced criticism towards the authorities over heating failures in parts of Russia during an unusually cold winter.
Upon announcing his intention to run for re-election, Putin emphasized the importance of the war in Ukraine, underscoring Russia’s commitment to strengthening its position across the front lines until its goals are achieved.
Overall, it remains to be seen if Nadezhdin will succeed in gathering the necessary signatures and how much of his critique against the war will be allowed to proceed.
(Reporting by Reuters; writing by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
