An attempt by Russia’s longshot independent candidate Boris Nadezhdin to collect enough signatures to stand in the March presidential election has generated political shockwaves. Over 200,000 people have so far turned out to support the openly anti-war politician, with long lines forming outside signature collection points all over the country. Amid Russia’s crackdown on dissent, those standing in such lines are making a conscious political statement. Ultimately, the most likely scenario is that Nadezhdin will not be allowed to run. But his success will be noted by both the Russian establishment and the country’s silent opposition. When Nadezhdin’s name was first floated as a possible candidate, most experts assumed he would run a tame campaign in close coordination with the Kremlin. The aim of permitting such a candidacy would have been to add a bit of diversity to the spectacle, increase turnout, and—when he inevitably received a tiny number of votes—to crow about how unpopular liberal politicians are in Russia.
Authors
- Published in
- United States of America
