Communist Candidate Approved for Russian Presidential Race

Russia’s national elections commission has officially registered Nikolai Kharitonov as the Communist Party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election in March. Kharitonov, a member of the lower house of parliament, has previously contested in the 2004 election as the Communist candidate, securing 13.8% of the vote. While the Communist candidate typically garners the second-highest vote tally, it is widely expected that President Vladimir Putin, who is running as an independent, will secure a decisive victory. The elections commission had also approved candidates from the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party and the New People Party last week, both of which are generally supportive of legislation backed by Putin’s United Russia party.

Nikolai Kharitonov’s approval as the Communist candidate adds another name to the ballot for the Russian presidential election, but it is unlikely to pose a significant challenge to Vladimir Putin’s dominance in Russian politics. The rejection of a candidate advocating for peace in Ukraine last month and the approval of candidates from parties generally supportive of Putin’s policies indicate a political landscape that is not conducive to strong opposition. Putin, who has been in power since 2000, remains the favored candidate, and his campaign as an independent is supported by the United Russia party, with widespread expectations of his victory in the upcoming election.