Russian veterans run for general elections in large numbers... 82 candidates nominated by United Russia Party
Quick Look
- Russia's United Russia party nominated 82 veterans of Ukraine's 'special military operation' as candidates for the House of Representatives.
- Through this, Deputy Speaker Dmitry Medvedev emphasized the legitimacy of forming a national governing body and highlighted Russia's democratic process of holding elections even in wartime situations.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Russia is holding House of Representatives and local elections as scheduled even during the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin defines war veterans as 'true elites' and seeks to raise their social status.
(Istanbul = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Dong-ho = The TASS and RIA Novosti news agencies reported on the 16th (local time) that a large number of Russian war veterans are running for general elections.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's National Security Council and a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced that 82 people who participated in the 'special military operation' were nominated as candidates for members of the lower house of parliament (State Duma) by the United Russia Party, Russia's largest political party, of which he is the party leader.
Deputy Speaker Medvedev said, “Many of our candidates are people who took up arms and defended their homeland,” and added, “Hundreds of veterans are also running in local elections.”
Deputy Speaker Medvedev emphasized, “The country is at war, but unlike our enemies, we are holding elections,” adding, “This is because we believe that the country and its people have the right to form a new governing body, including the State Duma.”
He also argued that “absolute transparency of the voting process and clear legitimacy of the results must be guaranteed.”
It appears that the reason behind the United Russia Party recruiting many military personnel with war experience as candidates was propaganda against the war in Ukraine.
In particular, Vice Chairman Medvedev's remarks are also interpreted as a criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who skipped the presidential election due to wartime martial law and remains in office beyond his designated term, as being unlegitimized.
The Associated Press calculated that about 200 candidates at various levels for the Russian general and local elections to be held on the 18th to 20th have served on the Ukrainian front.
The AP said, “The Kremlin is praising them as Russia’s ‘true elite’ and trying to show that war veterans will enjoy an honorable status in the civilian world,” and some say this is a means of attracting more troops to the battlefield.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Russian general and local elections will be held from the 18th to the 20th.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What are the actual chances of election of veterans candidates?
- What impact does this nomination have on actual troop recruitment?
