A proposal by the Russian Communist party to register a candidate for president who had openly opposed a possible war in the Ukraine was blocked by the Central Election Commission. The Communist Party proposed billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, one of the richest men in Russia, as the candidate to challenge incumbent president Vladimir Putin in the upcoming elections.
In an interview with Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the Central Election Commission said approval for Prokhorov’s candidacy had not been given and had no further comment.
Prokhorov has been a vocal opponent of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, which has triggered a political crisis and angered the West. He has also been highly critical of Putin’s government and proposed liberal economic reforms.
Alexei Chadayev, a leader of the Russian Communist Party, said Prokhorov was the only one who had the “courage and the political weight” to oppose Putin properly. “We understand that the odds of defeating Putin through the ballot box are slim, but we need to send a clear message to the government that the Russian people are seeking change,” Chadayev said.
The refusal to register Prokhorov’s candidacy is seen as a clear indication that the Kremlin is determined to make sure that Putin runs unopposed in the upcoming election. The decision has been widely viewed as a violation of the constitutional right for public contest of candidates in any election.
