REPORTING. "This is the only way we can express our differences of opinion" : Russian voters mobilize for qualification of Vladimir Putin's main opponent Franceinfo

Boris Nadejdine needs to collect 100,000 signatures in order to be able to run in the presidential election against Vladimir Putin in Russia in mid-March.

Published on January 24, 2024 11:52 am

Reading time: 2 minutes

The next presidential elections in Russia are scheduled for March 17, 2024. (NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)

Just over 50 days before the presidential election, Vladimir Putin's only real declared opponent, Boris Nadezhdin, is in a race against time in Russia. In order to be able to take part in the election in mid-March, he must collect 100,000 signatures across Russia by January 31st.

After this independent candidate left late, penniless and without movement, he launched a call for signatures. In recent days, hundreds of Russians have lined up in front of the company's offices every day, especially in large cities. The Russians are seduced by this candidate who wants to end the war. Even if their chances of winning are almost zero and despite the repression, they still bring their signature.

“The end of the war (…) is what everyone wants”

It's dark, it's -8 degrees, it's snowing, and yet several hundred people are lining up on a small street in the center of Moscow, in front of Boris Nadezhdine's campaign headquarters, like Nadiejda, a student from Siberia: “I thought he had already done it.” I collected the signatures, but a friend called me and said, “No, he doesn't have them, let's go.” The main point of his program is to end the war, and frankly that's it, what everyone wants.”

Boris Nadezhdine is the last hope of the liberal camp in Russia. The 60-year-old experienced opponent went into the election campaign with a slogan that was as short as it was effective: “Putin must go.” But Boris Nadejdine does not have a party behind him, he absolutely has to collect at least 100,000 signatures, with a quota per region. I'm not sure he'll get it, and the Electoral Commission might also put obstacles in his way.

But that does not discourage Iana, who waits her turn to sign: “Even if he cannot attend, it is the only way to express our disagreement in a legal and safe way. I would rather do something than us.” We stayed at home and lamented our fate. A young woman comes out of the campaign headquarters, she shouts “Russia will be free” and everyone applauds her.