00:00 Russian lawmakers have scheduled the country's 2024 presidential elections for March 17,
00:05 nudging Vladimir Putin closer to a potential fifth term.
00:08 The upper house of the parliament, federation council, has unanimously voted for this date,
00:12 marking the campaign's start.
00:15 Although Putin hasn't confirmed his candidacy yet, it is highly anticipated following the
00:19 date announcement.
00:20 With his orchestrated constitutional reforms allowing him potential terms until 2036, his
00:25 grip on Russia's political system makes his victory almost certain.
00:29 While challenges to Putin's dominance are also very scarce, the notable critics who
00:32 could challenge him are imprisoned or either living abroad, while most independent media
00:37 outlets are banned.
00:39 Among those intending to run are Boris Nadezhdin, a former lawmaker from the Moscow region,
00:44 and Yekaterina Dansova, a journalist lawyer from the Bua region.
00:47 However, their path to the ballot is arduous unless supported by political parties with
00:52 representation in the state Duma.
00:54 Otherwise, gathering thousands of signatures across various regions is necessary.
00:58 Russian election laws impose stringent requirements on candidates necessitating extensive signatures
01:02 from multiple regions.
01:04 Putin, in previous elections, has used varying strategies, such as running as an independent
01:08 candidate in 2018 and obtaining signatures, or being nominated by the Kremlin's United
01:13 Russia Party in 2012, exempting him from rigorous process.
01:17 The Central Election Commission now plans for online voting in nearly 30 regions, along
01:21 with traditional paper ballots, and considers extending voting across three days.
01:25 However, these measures, coupled with recent restrictions, limit independent observation.
01:30 For the unaware, Vladimir Putin has been serving Russia's presidency since 2012.
01:34 Before that, he contested presidential elections in 2018 and is currently vying in 2024.
01:39 Additionally, he has already enacted a law extending presidential terms, allowing him
01:44 to remain in office until 2036.
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