Candidate from the Russian Peace Party, Boris Nadezhdinmanaged to enlist the support of Russians opposing war in Ukrainebut also from opposition in prison and exilewhich could ultimately prevent it from registering Kremlin.

“I believe that the start of a special military operation was fatal mistake“, Nadezhdin points out in his election program, in which he proposes “bring everyone (soldiers fighting in Ukraine) home“.

Nadezhdin, candidate, supported Minority Party “Civil Initiative”you still have a couple of days to collect the necessary signatures (100 thousand) to participate in the presidential elections in March next year.

“Where are the queues to sign Putin’s candidacy?”– he sneered about the 2-3 million signatures collected by the Kremlin.

Social phenomenon

The 60-year-old politician overnight became a real social phenomenon. Long lines formed in front of the building. opposition candidate’s election headquarters throughout the country, including Siberian regions with temperatures of 40 degrees below zero.

“This is my first time participating in such an event. I think that achieving more than 100 thousand signatures is already small victory“19-year-old student Yulia told EFE.

According to the site, more 183 thousand people signed up in favor of Nadezhdin, whose assistants admit that in a number of regions the required 2,500 signatures for each subject of the Federation have not yet been collected.

“We started on January 8, but in recent days the influx of signatories has increased sharply. Yesterday we had about 3,500 interested people,” said an activist at the candidate’s headquarters in Moscow.

He emphasized that “everything happens within the lawwithout any problems and in a positive atmosphere,” although a police van appeared outside the office this week.

“Many of us are against war”

Many Russians standing in line in Moscow were young people who have never participated in elections presidential.

“This is an opportunity to unite around a candidate, even if he is not going to win the election. We see it There are many of us who are against the authorities and we oppose the war,” said Irina, registered in another region of Russia.

Analysts and opponents agree that, given the impossibility of holding demonstrations against the war, the signature campaign has become ” the only legal way to protest“.

“I don’t care about the candidate. If there is any option to get rid of Comrade Putin, we must take it.. I’d like to get it registered since I haven’t voted in a while. Otherwise, there’s no point in participating,” said 64-year-old Natalya.

Kirill, 54 years old, has extensive electoral experience. “I want change in my beloved country. Nadezhdin is a politician whom I have known for many years. I have hope in Nadezhdin,” whose last name in Russian is associated with the word hope, he said.

Support from prison and links

In the middle of the month, Nadezhdin collected only about 10 thousand signatures, but everything changed when he received support on social networks of allies of the imprisoned oppositionist Alexey Navalnywhich corresponds 30 years in prisonand from the country’s main bloggers.

His wife, Yulia Navalnayastamped it signature in favor of the candidatewhich also received support Vladimir Kara-Murzawho is serving 25 years in prison.

Nadezhdin did not speak categorically about the future of the Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia, including the Crimean Peninsula, but called for release of political prisoners like Navalny.

“I believe that the presidential administration made a serious mistake in allowing him to go this far. It has been shown that there are many people who are against war and lost my fear– commented Sergei Guryev, a famous oppositionist and professor who emigrated to France.

Of course, he admitted that “I wouldn’t bet money on Nadezhdin being registered.“.

The candidate, who admits he is biting his tongue to prevent the election commission from throwing him out of the race, has rejected the signatures collected in exile and denies that it is both a project of the Kremlin and the oligarch. Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

“I can’t imagine how they could not register me. I am the first candidate to campaign entirely on private donations.“, he claimed.

(EFE)