Russian Presidential Election 2024- Vladimir Putin’s challenger Yekaterina Duntsova barred from contesting elections over alleged application error

Russian Presidential Election 2024: Vladimir Putin’s challenger Yekaterina Duntsova barred from contesting elections over alleged application error

Former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova faced a major setback in her bid to run against President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming March election. The central electoral commission unanimously rejected her candidacy, citing alleged mistakes in her application. Video footage from the commission’s meeting captured the moment when members voted to reject Duntsova’s candidacy. Following the decision, the head of the commission, Ella Pamfilova, offered words of consolation to Duntsova, emphasizing her youth and the potential for turning setbacks into opportunities.Duntsova’s Documented Deficiencies

Screenshots shared by Duntsova’s campaign channel revealed documents flagged by the commission for lacking proper signatures. The rejection occurred just three days after she had submitted supporting documents for her candidacy, intending to focus on ending the war in Ukraine and advocating for the release of political prisoners.

Kremlin’s Confidence in Putin’s Victory

The Kremlin maintains that Putin enjoys widespread support, citing opinion poll ratings of approximately 80%. Despite Duntsova’s aspirations and the criticism she faced, the official stance is that Putin is poised to secure victory in the first presidential election since the onset of the Ukraine conflict.

Duntsova’s Unwavering Resolve

Despite facing skepticism and adversity, Duntsova, 40, had expressed her determination to stand as a candidate. Described by commentators as both brave and, alternatively, as part of a scripted plan, she emphasized the importance of overcoming fear in pursuing her political aspirations.

(With Reuters Inputs)