AP discusses the participation of a “liberal candidate” in the presidential elections – Kommersant

A candidate representing liberal forces may take part in the 2024 Russian presidential elections, the newspaper reports “Vedomosti” with reference to four sources close to the Russian Presidential Administration.

Vedomosti’s interlocutors named as an example of a suitable candidate for the presidency of the Russian Federation from the “liberals”, in their opinion, the former editor-in-chief of the closed radio station Ekho Moskvy, journalist Alexei Venediktov (included in the register of foreign agents). At the same time, Mr. Venediktov himself states that he does not plan to participate in the election campaign, since it is “outside his interests.” “Surely there will be other potential candidates, besides Alexey Venediktov, who will be ready to run,” notes one of Vedomosti’s sources.

In the last two presidential campaigns in Russia, liberal candidates were represented. In 2012, this role was filled by billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who ultimately received 7.9% of the vote. During the 2018 campaign, liberal forces were represented by TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak, founder of the Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky and business ombudsman Boris Titov (they received 1.6%, 1% and 0.7% of the votes, respectively).

The Russian presidential elections are scheduled for March 17, 2024. On September 12, during the plenary meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum, the current head of state Vladimir Putin statedthat he will announce whether he will seek a new term only after elections are called. Last week, his press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that preparations for the presidential elections had not yet begun. How believes Mr. Peskov, if Vladimir Putin goes to re-election, then no one will be able to compete with him, since he enjoys “the absolute support of the Russian population.”

Alexander Kislov