Russia's election body finds 'error' in paperwork filed by Putin's only rival

Russia’s elections commission has identified potential irregularities in over 100,000 signatures supporting Boris Nadezhdin, the sole anti-war candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

The revelation raises uncertainties about his candidacy’s validity, with a looming risk of disqualification, a move that could impact the carefully orchestrated ballot aimed at securing victory for Vladimir Putin.

Despite Nadezhdin’s extensive efforts to gather support, a briefing at the central elections commission on Friday suggested the presence of deceased individuals among the submitted signatures.

While no disqualification has occurred yet, a review of the “errors” is scheduled for Monday, heightening the possibility of his removal from the ballot.

Deputy Head Nikolai Bulayev expressed surprise at the “errors” and raised ethical concerns about the signature collection process. Nadezhdin, a seasoned politician with ties to both Kremlin insiders and Putin’s opposition, faces scrutiny as his past association with government figures becomes controversial.

Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya suggests that Nadezhdin’s candidacy, initially allowed to demonstrate the futility of the anti-war agenda, has become politically inconvenient for the Kremlin.

His recent support from jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s camp, meetings with soldiers’ wives, and outreach to anti-war Russians abroad have made him a source of embarrassment.

Despite polling in the single digits, Nadezhdin’s surge in popularity during signature collection poses a challenge for the Kremlin, particularly as other anti-war candidates face disqualification.

Yekaterina Duntsova has already been disqualified due to alleged paperwork errors, prompting a shift in grassroots organizing efforts to support Nadezhdin.

With Putin seeking an overwhelming victory for a fifth term, the uncertainty surrounding Nadezhdin’s candidacy adds a layer of complexity to the upcoming election, reflecting broader tensions around Russia’s military operations.