DW
Vladimir Putin will stand for reelection in May 2024. The Russian leader discreetly mentioned this decision. In midDecember, at a ceremony in honor of the soldiers, he confirmed what everyone had already expected: he would run for president of Russia for the fifth time.
However, another announcement a few weeks earlier actually came as a complete surprise. A journalist from a television station in Rzhev a city of 60,000 people west of Moscow wants to run for the Kremlin against the country's longtime leader.
Ekaterina Duntsova is 40 years old and a single mother of three children. “Today the situation in Russia is like this: anyone who wants to represent citizens with democratic views in the next elections will either be in prison, have their rights restricted and put on trial, or be forced into exile,” he said. She wants to position herself as a real alternative. “Why not a woman as president, as a symbol of moderation, kindness and sensitivity?” he asked in the DW interview.
“Kremlin puppet” or sincere candidate?
But there is still a long way to go before he can be a candidate. Putin was nominated as the candidate of the nationalistconservative United Russia party. Duntsova still does not have a party nomination. In order for her candidacy to be officially registered, she must collect 300,000 signatures from supporters by January 31, 2024. Not an easy task for a woman who has previously only worked in local politics.
In announcing her plan, Duntsova soon made clear her stance on Russia's “special military operation” in Ukraine a term the Kremlin uses for the invasion of the neighboring country. She advocates for peace, but avoids calling the conflict in Ukraine a war.
She carefully examines every statement to avoid violating Russian law, which punishes anyone who “discredits the army,” which could result in a long prison sentence. So far, she said, she hasn't felt any consequences.
However, this is precisely what has raised suspicions among some of her critics that she could be a “spoiler” candidate for the Kremlin that's what they call fake candidacies launched with Putin's endorsement in order to make the election campaign seem like a real competition.
However, Abbas Galiamov, Putin's former speechwriter who broke with the president in 2010, says he sees “no reason to believe that Duntsova is not acting sincerely.”
“She has a good reputation as a person who advocates sincere ideas. Duntsova is seen as a person who fights for her ideals and does not engage in opportunistic politics,” said the political analyst, currently in exile.
Turbulent start
The young politician has already encountered some obstacles on her way. Minutes after Duntsova publicly appealed for financial support for her campaign via social media, her bank informed her that her account was blocked from deposits, she said on her Telegram channel.
At his nomination event on December 17th, not only around 700 supporters but also the police were present. “Suddenly the electricity was turned off,” Duntsova wrote on Telegram. “We immediately organized an emergency power source using a generator.” The event moderator then took the microphone out of his hand and asked those present not to ask “political questions”.
“There will probably be more small power outages,” says the 40yearold hard worker. “But we will overcome it together.”
Dilemma in the Kremlin: Allow or prohibit?
Even as a legitimate opponent, Ekaterina Duntsova could be exploited by the Kremlin for its own purposes or simply ignored. Abbas Galiamov sees two possible scenarios.
In the first case, the Kremlin allows Duntsova to collect the necessary signatures and register officially, which can serve to legitimize Putin's victory and, above all, the war in Ukraine. If the Kremlin chief supposedly wins easily against an antiwar candidate, he could exploit this for his political propaganda.
In the second scenario, the Kremlin would not let Duntsova run for president. “The risk that she will get a lot of support and a lot of votes is quite high,” emphasizes Galiamov. “Especially if the situation on the fronts comes to a head during the election campaign, which cannot be ruled out.” The analyst assumes that in this case, voters who vote in protest would probably vote for them. Maybe she could even achieve a respectable success in the election, and the Kremlin is unlikely to want to risk that.
High personal risk
Ekaterina Duntsova is aware that challenging Putin can be dangerous. She also knows that the president's main critics Alexei Navalni, Ilia Yachin and Vladimir KaraMursa were sentenced to long prison terms.
However, the young politician remains hopeful. “The outlook may not be the best. We have all seen what happens to those who want to make their positions known in one way or another. They will be classified as foreign agents or prosecuted. But I want to believe in the best possible outcome,” he told DW.
On her Telegram channel, she explains the reasons why she decided to enter the presidential race. “Because I love my country, because I want Russia to be a democratic, prosperous and peaceful state. Because at this moment our country is moving in a completely different direction, away from rights and freedoms, away from peace and love, away from a beautiful future.”