"Russian Election Commission Challenges Anti-War Candidate's Bid Amid Putin's Grip on Power"
Russia is moving to ban a prominent opposition figure, Dmitry Gudkov, from running in the upcoming presidential election, a move seen as an attempt to further consolidate power for President Vladimir Putin. Gudkov, a former lawmaker, has been a vocal critic of Putin's government, and the ban is likely to further stifle political opposition in the country.