In a significant move ahead of next month’s presidential election in Russia, the Central Election Commission has disqualified Boris Nadezhdin, a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin’s military actions in Ukraine, effectively barring him from challenging the incumbent president. Nadezhdin, known for his outspoken stance against the war in Ukraine—a position rarely tolerated in Russia’s tightly controlled political landscape—had sought to contest the election, aiming to bring about an end to the conflict.
Despite gathering over 200,000 signatures in support of his candidacy, a feat in a climate where dissent is often suppressed, the election commission found fault with more than 15% of these, declaring over 9,000 signatures invalid. This left Nadezhdin short of the requisite 100,000 signatures needed to formalize his candidacy, a shortfall confirmed by commission member Andrei Shutov.
Boris Nadezhdin thanked his supporters as he submitted the signatures. EPA
Undeterred, Nadezhdin has vowed to take his fight to Russia’s Supreme Court, seeking justice in what he and his supporters see as a transparent bid to sideline a potent voice for peace. “I collected more than 200,000 signatures across Russia. We conducted the collection openly and honestly,” Nadezhdin stated on social media, underlining his commitment to challenging the commission’s decision.
The presidential election, scheduled for 15-17 March, has been criticized for lacking genuine competition, with only Kremlin-approved candidates allowed to run. This has cast a shadow over the democratic process in Russia, where the outcome is widely regarded as a foregone conclusion.
A pro-peace Russian presidential hopeful submits documents to register as a candidate
Nadezhdin’s exclusion is not an isolated incident in Russian politics. It follows a similar disqualification of Yekaterina Duntsova, a former TV journalist and independent politician, who was barred from running due to alleged errors in her application. Such actions against anti-war candidates highlight the ongoing suppression of political dissent in Russia, particularly concerning the war in Ukraine.
In a remarkable show of solidarity, Russia’s main opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, incarcerated in the Arctic Circle, has expressed support for Nadezhdin’s campaign. This endorsement underscores the broader opposition movement’s recognition of the importance of Nadezhdin’s anti-war stance.
