1703336300 In Russia a pacifist candidate was excluded from the presidential

In Russia, a pacifist candidate was excluded from the presidential election

Iekaterina Dountsova, in Moscow, Russia, December 2023. Iekaterina Dountsova, in Moscow, Russia, December 2023. MAXIM SHEMETOV / Portal

The Russian Election Commission on Saturday, December 23, ruled out the presidential candidacy of journalist and former municipal representative Yekaterina Dountsova. The commission rejected former television journalist Iekaterina Dountsova's candidacy for the March presidential election due to “errors” in her registration file, her campaign team said on Telegram. This decision came just three days after Yekaterina Dountsova applied for registration with the Election Commission.

The chairwoman of the commission, Ella Pamfilova, said she had unanimously rejected the 40-year-old's candidacy. “You are a young woman, you have your life ahead of you,” Ms. Pamfilova said, turning to the candidate. She said a total of 29 people had filed to run for president.

Any serious resistance is excluded by the Russian power

Yekaterina Duntsova had planned to take part in a program to end the war in Ukraine and release political prisoners.

Vladimir Putin, in power as head of state or government since 1999, is seeking a new six-year term at the age of 71 and is believed to have about 80% of voting intentions, according to Opinion polls. He has been in power since 1999 and is guaranteed to be reappointed for a new six-year term.

Russian power has barred any serious opposition from electoral mandates and political life for years, with repression increasing since the Kremlin sent its army into Ukraine in February 2022.

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The world with AFP