Igor Girkin, a well-known ultranationalist currently in custody in Russia and awaiting trial on charges of inciting extremism, has reportedly nominated himself to run for president in 2024. This announcement was made on his behalf and was reported by the online SOTA news channel on Saturday.
Girkin had previously stated from custody in August that he believed he would make a better president than Vladimir Putin, whom he described as being “too kind.” However, his remarks at the time were seen as ironic and he is considered an unlikely contender for the presidency.
According to SOTA, a video was posted on its Telegram channel featuring Oleg Nelzin, the co-chair of a group called Russian Movement for Strelkov, reading a letter from Girkin during a news conference. In the letter, Girkin instructed his followers to establish a headquarters and begin collecting signatures for his candidacy.
Supporters of Girkin had previously announced in September that his criminal investigation had been extended until December 18. It is worth noting that Girkin lost an appeal against pre-trial detention in a Moscow court back in August. He is primarily known in the Western world for his conviction in absentia by a Dutch court for his involvement in the shooting down of a Malaysian passenger plane over eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has consistently stated that Putin enjoys unprecedented support and would overwhelmingly win if he were to run for re-election.
(Reporting by Elaine Monaghan in Washington; editing by Clelia Oziel)
