Russia Sets March 17 As Date For Presidential Election Amidst Putin Speculations

In a televised meeting on Thursday, Russia officially scheduled its presidential election for March 17, 2024. This is a move widely anticipated to pave the way for Vladimir Putin's potential re-election. Putin, who has dominated Russian politics for over two decades, has consistently quelled opposition during his tenure. The upper house of the Russian parliament, in a session broadcast live, unanimously endorsed the chosen date, marking the commencement of what the chamber's head, Valentina Matvienko, termed as the initiation of the presidential campaign. While Putin, a former KGB agent, has not formally declared his candidacy for another six-year term, speculation abounds regarding his potential participation. The 71-year-old leader is expected to address the issue during an upcoming end-of-year press conference, scheduled for next week. This press conference will be Putin's first since the deployment of Russian troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Despite the controversial move, Russia has asserted the annexation of Ukrainian regions, including Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, although complete control remains disputed.