• Former TV journalist Ekaterina Duntsova formally applied on Wednesday to run in the Russian presidential elections in March to challenge incumbent President Vladimir Putin, who is standing for re-election. reuters.com (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• The regional lawmaker submitted the necessary documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to officially register for the 2024 presidential elections. If accepted as an independent candidate, she still faces the challenge of collecting 300K unique voter signatures from at least 40 Russian regions. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Duntsova stressed her right to stand in elections under federal law, dismissing concerns about the need for permission from the authorities. She calls for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine war and aims to promote her vision of a more “humane Russia,” promoting peaceful geopolitical relationships. Independent (LR: 2 CP: 3)
• Hundreds of supporters gathered in Moscow for the official launch of her candidacy, announced by her campaign on Sunday, despite fears of police interference. The 40-year-old is suspected of being backed by the Kremlin — allegations she denies — while her supporters are concerned about possible prosecution under Russia’s strict laws enacted during the Ukraine conflict. MSN
• If elected president, her first move would be to release Russia’s political prisoners, she reportedly said, calling in particular for the release of activist Alexander Navalny. The nationalist Kremlin critic — whose whereabouts are currently unknown — is not permitted to run in elections and has been imprisoned since 2021. The Kyiv Independent
• Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday submitted documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to register for the March 17 presidential elections, after supporters nominated him to run as an independent candidate. Putin is widely expected to win a fifth term in office. ABC News

Pro-establishment narrative:

• That the former local lawmaker and mother of three dares to run as an independent candidate against Kremlin ruler Putin is a sign of hope for Russia. It is outrageous to call Duntsova a Kremlin tool just because she’s running as an independent candidate and is not part of the political establishment. With her call for peace in Ukraine and for a democratic and peaceful Russia, she represents the hopes of many Russians and the West. Even if her chances of winning are bleak, she at least reassures ordinary Russians that it is indeed possible and that they need not be afraid to stand up to the authoritarian Putin system.
  The Moscow Times

Establishment-critical narrative:

• The Western press applauds Duntsova, just as it celebrates every candidate, no matter how insignificant, who aims to remove Putin as president. Calling for peace in Ukraine and criticizing the Kremlin reveals her naivety, for it wasn’t Moscow that laid the groundwork for the conflict. There’s still only one guarantor of a sovereign and prosperous Russia, and that is Vladimir Putin. The Russians are well aware of this, as evidenced by his high poll ratings. The fact that Duntsova intends to run is important for Russia’s political culture, but only Putin can prevent the country from becoming a Western satellite in a US-dominated hegemonic order.
  RT (LR: 3 CP: 1)

Nerd narrative:

• There is a 21% chance, that the next Russian leader disapprove of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  Metaculus (LR: 3 CP: 3)