Russian anti-war presidential candidate Boris Nadezhdin encountered a setback on Monday as a working group of Russia’s Central Election Commission identified 15% of submitted supporters’ signatures as invalid. If confirmed, this rate exceeds the allowable error, potentially disqualifying Nadezhdin from challenging President Vladimir Putin in March.
The commission is set to make a final decision on Wednesday, prompting Nadezhdin to express readiness for an appeal to the Supreme Court if registration is denied.
Nadezhdin presented over 100,000 signatures from supporters nationwide last week, seeking inclusion on the ballot. The commission’s preliminary analysis indicated deceased individuals among Nadezhdin’s listed supporters.
Despite slim chances of victory against Putin’s long-standing dominance, Nadezhdin’s campaign gains attention for its outright opposition to the Kremlin’s military operation in Ukraine. The 60-year-old candidate deems Putin’s actions a “fatal mistake” and advocates conflict resolution through negotiation.
