Kremlin challenger Boris Nadezhdin says he has collected enough signatures to stand as a candidate in Russia’s upcoming presidential election.

The former MP, known for his relatively outspoken criticism of Mr Putin and of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has handed over more than the 100,000 required signatures to the electoral authorities.

Electoral Commission Reviewing Application

The electoral commission has received Mr Nadezhdin’s application and will now review it to ensure all signatures meet the required criteria.

Disqualification Possibility

If any “irregularities” are found with any of the submitted signatures, the commission retains the authority to disqualify the candidate. An example of this is the disqualification of independent politician Yekaterina Duntsova in December when the electoral commission identified 100 “mistakes” on her application.

Presidential Candidate Vladimir Putin

Current President Vladimir Putin has already registered as an independent candidate for the upcoming election, positioning himself to secure another six-year term, which appears highly likely.

Hard Work and Support

Thousands of Russian citizens have braved the freezing weather by queuing outside across the country to add their signatures in support of Mr Nadezhdin’s bid. Upon the completion of signature collection, Mr Nadezhdin expressed his gratitude towards his supporters through a social media post.

Uncertain Electoral Climate

In Russia, candidates who are seen as non-competitive or without a realistic chance of winning, have historically been allowed to participate to preserve the facade of democracy. Thus, it remains unclear whether Mr Nadezhdin will be able to conduct his campaign freely.

Previous Opposition and Current Political Climate

Russia’s political scene has been heavily dominated by President Vladimir Putin since 2000. Opposition figures such as Alexei Navalny, Ilya Yashin, and Boris Nemtsov have faced significant adversity including lengthy jail sentences and even assassination. The continued political reign of President Putin was solidified when a constitutional amendment was passed in 2020, extending his potential stay in power until 2036.