Antiwar Candidate Boris Nadezhdin Banned from Challenging Putin in Russian Election

Russian electoral authorities have banned the only remaining antiwar candidate, Boris Nadezhdin, from running against President Vladimir Putin in the March election, signaling a shift towards authoritarianism. The move reflects the Kremlin's nervousness about an antiwar protest vote amid national war fatigue, as manipulated elections are used to maintain Putin's grip on power. Nadezhdin, who vowed to appeal the decision, had garnered unexpected support, indicating widespread discontent over the war against Ukraine. Despite the ban, a large protest vote in his favor could create internal divisions and unease about the unpopular war.