Later this week, Russia will hold its presidential election, but no one is holding their breath about the outcome. Russia’s war in Ukraine has accelerated the process of ruthless consolidation of power in the Kremlin. Vladimir Putin’s regime, with a mixture of fear and confidence, is becoming more brazenly aggressive against any opposition ahead of the election, which will be held from March 15 to 17.
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Boris Nadezhdin says he will not rally his supporters to protest against his exclusion from next month's presidential election because, he says, he has learned from “Alexei Navalny's mistakes.” “It would mean exposing my supporters to the police and Rosgvardia’s batons,” Nadezhdin told The Moscow Times, referring to the inevitable crackdown awaiting unauthorized protests in Russia. “That’s not right and doesn't lead anywhere.” Nadezhdin, the only presidential hopeful to openly condemn the war in Ukraine, was barred from the ballot despite earning the endorsement of thousands of Russians, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court this week.