Russian Election Commission Registers 1.6K War Veterans as Candidates in Upcoming Races
At least 200 veterans have been nominated for seats in the 450-member State Duma, Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said.
Russian election authorities have registered nearly 1,600 Ukraine war veterans to run for office in upcoming federal, regional, and local elections scheduled for next month, according to Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova. Out of the 1,668 veterans who applied for nomination, 1,586 were cleared to participate in the elections, with at least 200 of them seeking seats in the 450-member State Duma.
One veteran is running for the position of governor. Pamfilova expressed confidence that voters would support these candidates, stating that their election would be a "major proof of the renewal of our legislative body." President Vladimir Putin has referred to Ukraine war veterans as Russia's "new elite," and several state-backed initiatives have been implemented to integrate them into government positions.
Of the 1,486 veterans nominated by political parties, the party with the most nominees was not specified by Pamfilova, but 100 candidates are running as independent individuals. During the September 2024 elections, 308 war veterans from the United Russia party won in local and regional races. Over 2 million voters expressed their desire to vote online during the September elections, highlighting the increasing interest in digital voting methods.
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