The Russian Election Commission this Saturday vetoed the candidacy for the presidential election of journalist and former councilor Yekaterina Duntsova, a democracy activist who advocates an end to the offensive in Ukraine.
The commission alleged “errors in the documentation” presented to register the candidacy, Russian press reported.
The commission’s president, Ella Pamfilova, declared that the body unanimously decided to block the 40-year-old woman’s candidacy for the March elections. The victory of President Vladimir Putin, who has been in power since 1999, is considered certain in the election and he should obtain a new six-year term.
“You are a young woman and you have your life ahead of you,” Pamfilova declared to the candidate.
Duntsova criticized the decision, which she called “sad”.
On Telegram, she announced her intention to file an appeal with the Supreme Court of Russia.
“It’s not over,” he said.
In practice, however, the process has little chance of prospering, as any candidacy that represents direct opposition to Kremlin policy has no chance of receiving authorization.
Duntsova also called on the leaders of the small liberal Yabloko party to support her candidacy.
“We cannot sit idly by. This is the last legal opportunity for citizens to express their disagreement with the policy of the current authorities,” he said on Telegram. “Russians must choose.”
“Thousands of lives depend on your decision,” he highlighted.
Pamfilova reported that 29 people presented documentation to register candidacies for the presidency, which is scheduled for voting in March 2024.
In Russia, the opposition is almost non-existent, after years of repression, a policy that has become even more intense since the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.