Yekaterina Duntsova Barred from Running in Russian Presidential Election Against Putin
In a significant development in Russian politics, former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova was disqualified from running against President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming election scheduled for next March. The central electoral commission unanimously voted to reject Duntsova's candidacy, citing alleged flaws in her application.
Duntsova's platform centered on ending the war in Ukraine and releasing political prisoners. Her disqualification has been interpreted by Putin’s critics as evidence of a constrained electoral process, designed to ensure a predetermined outcome. They argue that no candidate with genuine opposition views is permitted to challenge Putin, especially amidst the ongoing 22-month war with Ukraine.
Despite the disqualification, opinion polls suggest Putin enjoys high approval ratings, with figures around 80%. Ella Pamfilova, the head of the electoral commission, consoled Duntsova, highlighting her potential future prospects.
Documents posted by a telegram channel representing Duntsova indicated that the commission found issues with the signatures on her application. Duntsova, 40, acknowledged the hurried nature of her application and the difficulties in finding a lawyer to certify the bid.
Duntsova has since reached out to Grigory Yavlinsky, a veteran liberal politician, about the possibility of representing his Yabloko party. However, Yavlinsky has stated that Yabloko would not back her due to a lack of familiarity.
Duntsova's bid and subsequent disqualification received little attention from pro-Kremlin state media. Her decision to run had elicited mixed responses, with some commentators labeling her as either brave or part of a Kremlin-scripted appearance of competition.
Abbas Gallyamov, a former Kremlin speechwriter now labeled as a “foreign agent,” suggested that Putin aimed to avoid a repeat of the Alexander Lukashenko scenario in Belarus, where the opposition and Western governments accused Lukashenko of rigging the vote to claim victory over Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
With Putin holding significant control over the state apparatus, he is widely expected to secure a new six-year term. This would make him Russia’s longest-serving ruler since the 18th century, surpassing all Soviet rulers, including Josef Stalin.
Alexei Navalny, Putin’s best-known opponent, is currently serving more than 30 years in prison, with his whereabouts unknown since his recent transfer from his penal colony.
In the backdrop of Duntsova’s disqualification, Russia’s Communist Party, a consistent distant second to Putin in elections since 2000, is nominating Nikolai Kharitonov for the presidency. Meanwhile, another nominal opposition party, A Just Russia — For Truth, has announced its support for Putin's candidacy.
Duntsova's disqualification and the unfolding election dynamics underscore the challenges facing opposition figures in Russia and the tightly controlled political landscape under Putin’s regime.
