Presidential aspirant Boris Nadezhdin, an antiwar advocate in Russia, has spoken out against the decision by the Central Election Commission (CEC) to bar him from contesting the upcoming elections against incumbent Vladimir Putin, calling it a “political decision.”
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Nadezhdin asserted that the ruling was motivated by his growing popularity among voters, with his support increasing by 5 percent each week.
Critiquing Putin’s handling of the conflict with Ukraine, Nadezhdin emphasized that a majority of Russians desire an end to the hostilities and vowed to challenge the electoral body’s decision in the Supreme Court. He expressed his belief that contrary to official narratives, the sentiment in Russia is not uniformly supportive of Putin’s actions.
Putin (Credits: The Wall Street Journal)
In Russia, dissenting opinions have often been met with harsh penalties under stringent anti-defamation laws, particularly regarding criticisms of military actions. Nadezhdin acknowledged the risks posed by these laws but maintained his commitment to voicing his views within the bounds of legality, refraining from personal attacks against Putin.
Reflecting on his decades-long involvement in Russian politics, Nadezhdin highlighted his adherence to constitutional and legal frameworks, which he believes have shielded him from imprisonment despite his vocal opposition to certain government policies.
Nadezhdin, a 60-year-old municipal councillor representing the Civic Initiative party, claimed to have gathered the necessary signatures to qualify as a candidate but faced disqualification due to a portion being deemed invalid by the CEC.
Despite assertions from the Kremlin that Nadezhdin poses no serious threat to Putin’s reelection bid, he remains determined to contest the decision and believes his candidacy could present a significant challenge to the government if allowed to proceed.
While Putin is widely expected to secure another term, Nadezhdin remains resolute in his pursuit of participation in the electoral process, viewing it as an opportunity to advocate for change within the Russian political landscape.
