Ukraine war critic submits bid to challenge Putin for Russia’s presidency

Boris Nadezhdin submitted documents and signatures in support of his candidacy for president at the Central Election Commission, in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2024 [Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters]

Boris Nadezhdin, a prominent critic of the Kremlin, has submitted the documents needed to register as a candidate for Russia’s presidential elections in March.

The 60-year-old local councillor, who has promised to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, said on Wednesday that he had collected more than 100,000 signatures of support across 40 regions and submitted them and other documents to the Central Election Commission (CEC), which is technically enough to challenge President Vladimir Putin.