Russia’s Central Election Commission has barred journalist Yekatarina Duntsova, who has called for peace in Ukraine, from running for president in the next election, citing alleged mistakes in her application to register as a candidate.
Footage from a meeting of the central electoral commission showed members voting unanimously to reject Duntsova’s candidacy.
Duntsova, 40, had filed documents to stand in the March 2024 election as an independent candidate, promoting her vision of a “humane” Russia “that’s peaceful, friendly, and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect.”
Duntsova told Current Time TV last week that she supports peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.
“Peace negotiations to resolve the special military operation is among the priority issues for me,” Duntsova said, using the term, "special military operation," which Moscow uses to describe its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“A lot of time will be needed for peace negotiations to bring results. But anything is possible; I believe in it,” she added.
The former local legislator from the western town of Rzhev was summoned by prosecutors last month after she called for peace in Ukraine, the release of political prisoners, and democratic reforms in Russia.
President Vladimir Putin is expected to comfortably win the election, as Moscow has for years sidelined opponents from elections and the political scene. The clampdown has intensified since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Duntsova has spoken of being “afraid” after announcing her bid to run against Putin. Electricity briefly went out at the venue where Duntsova’s supporters were gathered last week, according to Sota, a Russian news publication covering the opposition, anti-government protests, and human rights issues.
Under constitutional reforms orchestrated by the Kremlin, Putin, 71, is eligible to seek two more six-year terms after his current term expires next year, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036.