the pacifist candidate excluded from the presidential election for “errors in documents”

She campaigns for democracy and an end to the offensive in Ukraine. On Saturday, December 23, the Russian Electoral Commission ruled out the presidential candidacy of journalist and former municipal representative Ekaterina Dountsova. The Commission invoked “errors in documents” submitted for registration of her candidacy by Ekaterina Duntsova, Russian television reported.

“Thousands of lives depend on your decision”

In front of the press, Ekaterina Dountsova quickly deplored a decision “sad” concerning “a popular initiative”. On Telegram, she announced her intention to appeal “tomorrow” before the Russian Supreme Court. “It is not finished”, she assured, even if in fact, this procedure has little chance of succeeding, any candidacy directly opposing the Kremlin’s policy having almost no chance of being authorized. Ekaterina Dountsova also asked the leaders of the small liberal Yabloko party to support her candidacy. “We cannot sit idly by! This is the last legal opportunity for citizens to express their disagreement with the policy pursued by the current authorities”she urged on Telegram. “Thousands of lives depend on your decision”she insisted.

The president of the Commission, Ella Pamfilova, declared that it had unanimously rejected the candidacy of this 40-year-old woman in the presidential elections next March, during which Vladimir Putin, in power since 1999, is assured of be reappointed for a new term of 6 years. “You are a young woman, you have your life ahead of you”, said Ella Pamfilova, addressing the candidate. According to her, a total of 29 people have submitted a presidential candidacy file. Russian power has for years excluded any serious opposition from elective mandates and political life, with repression which has accelerated since the Kremlin sent its army to Ukraine in February 2022.