Russian electoral-type events 2023-24

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

It has just came to my attention that Russia's next presidential elections are scheduled for March next year, which is nine months from now. (Ukraine is also do to have elections that same month, but I'll leave the creation of that thread to another)
Will Putin run again? What can be expected?

[smoltchanov]

If he will be healthy  and no "force major" situations emerge - he will, and will win easily. Sad, but true...

[Lumine]

Surely glorious President Prigozhin will be running for reelection.

[smoltchanov]

Surely glorious President Prigozhin will be running for reelection.

No. Prigozhin will (temporarily, of course) be in jail by election time (and will be released soon after)))))

[MABA 2020]

Surely glorious President Prigozhin will be running for reelection.

No. Prigozhin will (temporarily, of course) be in jail by election time (and will be released soon after)))))

Surely Prigozhin will be dead if his coup fails? I don't think Putin can allow him to simply go to jail after this?

[Storr]

I had a thought earlier that maybe all that went on in the past 24 hours was a ploy by Prigozhin to increase his popularity in preparation for a run for President in 2024.

It would explain why he decided to stop his drive to Moscow, because the effort was an attempt to send a message to the public instead of making a real attempt at regime change. That he's the one trying to fight the incompetent corrupt military brass. That he's the one that can actually lead Russia to glory. That he's the one who'd actually fight the elites, etc.

And to be fair, now that as part of his deal the insurrection charges are being dropped, he can legally run for office.

[I don't think this is likely, but it would explain why Prigozhin seemingly gave up after making a seemingly weak deal. IMO what probably happened is that Evgeny got mad after the MoD announced regulations that were going to put PMCs under MoD control. ]

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I had a thought earlier that maybe all that went on in the past 24 hours was a ploy by Prigozhin to increase his popularity in preparation for a run for President in 2024.

It would explain why he decided to stop his drive to Moscow, because the effort was an attempt to send a message to the public instead of making a real attempt at regime change. That he's the one trying to fight the incompetent corrupt military brass. That he's the one that can actually lead Russia to glory. That he's the one who'd actually fight the elites, etc.

And to be fair, now that as part of his deal the insurrection charges are being dropped, he can legally run for office.

[I don't think this is likely, but it would explain why Prigozhin seemingly gave up after making a seemingly weak deal. IMO what probably happened is that Evgeny got mad after the MoD announced regulations that were going to put PMCs under MoD control. ]

Interesting theory.
We shall see how it pans out, of course.

[TheReckoning]

Might as well start a thread for this one.

Elections in four constituencies to the national Duma to fill empty seats, 26 gubernatorial elections, 20 regional parliamentary elections, and many more on the local level.

[TheReckoning]

Might as well start this thread.

So far, Putin hasn’t announced he’s running for re-election. Only declared candidate is Ivan Otrakovsky, as an Independent. Leader of the Russian Naval Infantry.

[NewYorkExpress]

I assume Putin's running. It would make no sense for him to eliminate term limits and then just not run.

[DavidB.]

I believe this is what we call an "electoral-type event".

[CumbrianLefty]

Indeed, any that *aren't* that will be a pleasant surprise.

(even if Putin were to disappear in the interim, this likely still holds true)

[TheReckoning]

Ustin Chachikhin declared his bid for president as an Independent. He’s an anti-vax activist and author of many books on demography.

[Estrella]

Ustin Chachikhin declared his bid for president as an Independent. He’s an anti-vax activist and author of many books on demography.

...such as "How to increase the population of Russia", "Genocide of Russians", "Scientific atheism is the salvation of Russia" or "Exposing the slander against Stalin and the USSR".

Take his books, replace the fedora atheism with Patriarch Kirill's parody of Christianity and you get the brain of the average 21st century Homo Sovieticus. Despite all the talk about how a democratic Russia would be less of a threat to the world and to itself, it would inevitably end up being led by someone like this.

[CumbrianLefty]

Nothing is ever totally "inevitable" - but yes, it is depressingly likely.

[TheReckoning]

Still no announcement from Putin yet. Any guesses what this may mean?

[NewYorkExpress]

Still no announcement from Putin yet. Any guesses what this may mean?

Putin's going to announce at the last minute. When is the filing deadline in Russia, anyways?

[Nickelodeon PAC]

How much does Putin win* by?

[TheReckoning]

Putin announced he’s running.

I’m surprised this thread isn’t getting more attention, giving the significance of Russia worldwide.

[Dereich]

Putin announced he’s running.

I’m surprised this thread isn’t getting more attention, giving the significance of Russia worldwide.

What is there to discuss? There is no question as to the outcome and barely anything to be gleaned (especially at this stage) from the methods by which it is rigged. China is even more significant and the thread on Xi Jinping's "election" to a third term didn't reach two pages for the same reason.

[Duke of York]

Putin announced he’s running.

I’m surprised this thread isn’t getting more attention, giving the significance of Russia worldwide.

there's nothing to discuss. Elections in Russia are not free and fair and rigged so Putin and United Russia can't lose.

[TheReckoning]

Putin announced he’s running.

I’m surprised this thread isn’t getting more attention, giving the significance of Russia worldwide.

there's nothing to discuss. Elections in Russia are not free and fair and rigged so Putin and United Russia can't lose.

Never say never…

[warandwar]

Putin announced he’s running.

I’m surprised this thread isn’t getting more attention, giving the significance of Russia worldwide.

there's nothing to discuss. Elections in Russia are not free and fair and rigged so Putin and United Russia can't lose.

Theres plenty to discuss about unfree elections.

[Pouring Rain and Blairing Music]

Putin announced he’s running.

I’m surprised this thread isn’t getting more attention, giving the significance of Russia worldwide.

there's nothing to discuss. Elections in Russia are not free and fair and rigged so Putin and United Russia can't lose.

Theres plenty to discuss about unfree elections.

We can discuss reported turnout levels in Chechnya and whether the controlled opposition will win any oblasts.

[TheReckoning]

Any polling out so far, now that Putin’s declared?