Russian citizens residing in Kerala cast their votes for the Russian presidential elections at the booth specifically arranged at the Honorary Consulate of the Russian Federation, Russian House, in Thiruvananthapuram.

Ratheesh Nair, Honorary Consul of Russia and Director of the Russian House in Thiruvananthapuram, said, that they arranged polling for the Russian presidential elections for the third time. He expressed gratitude to Russian citizens in Kerala for their cooperation in the polling process.

In an interview with ANI, Nair said, "This is the third time the Consulate of Russian Federation is hosting polling for the&nbsp;Russian presidential elections. This is actually for Russian nationalists staying here and also for the tourists. We are happy to associate with the Central Election Commission of Russian Federation. I am very grateful to the Russian citizens in Kerala for their cooperation and enthusiasm to cast votes in the process of electing their new president."

Sergey Azurov, Senior Consul General in Chennai, said, "We are organising preliminary voting in the framework of presidential elections. We are here to provide an opportunity for the citizens of Russian federations living in India."

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Ulia, a Russian citizen, said fellow natives in Kerala are thankful to the Russian house and consulate general in India for providing them the opportunity to cast votes in the Presidential polls.

Speaking to ANI, Ulia said, "Everyone who came today are Russian citizens either residing permanently in India or are visiting tourists. Everybody is thankful and happy to come here and participate in the election, which is very important for every citizen. This is our responsibility. So, we are thankful to the Russian house and the consulate general in India from Chennai for providing this chance."

Russia is all set to hold presidential elections from March 15-17. Russian citizens will vote from Friday until Sunday across the 11 time zones of the country. Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) approved only three candidates to oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin, CNN reported.

The three candidates standing against Putin are Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vladislav Davankov of the New People Party and Nikolay Kharitonov of the Communist Party. All three men are thought to be satisfactorily pro-Kremlin and none is against Russia's military action against Ukraine.

As the majority of opposition candidates are either dead, jailed, exiled, barred from running or simply token figures, a victory for Putin is all but guaranteed, according to a CNN report.

Putin's reelection would extend his rule until at least 2030. Following constitutional changes in 2020, he would then be able to run again and potentially stay in power until 2036.

Russian citizens residing in Kerala cast their votes for the Russian presidential elections at the booth specifically arranged at the Honorary Consulate of the Russian Federation, Russian House, in Thiruvananthapuram.

Russian citizens residing in Kerala cast their votes for the Russian presidential elections at the booth specifically arranged at the Honorary Consulate of the Russian Federation, Russian House, in Thiruvananthapuram. Ratheesh Nair, Honorary Consul of Russia and Director of the Russian House in Thiruvananthapuram, said, that they arranged polling for the Russian presidential elections for the third time. He expressed gratitude to Russian citizens in Kerala for their cooperation in the polling process. In an interview with ANI, Nair said, "This is the third time the Consulate of Russian Federation is hosting polling for the Russian presidential elections. This is actually for Russian nationalists staying here and also for the tourists. We are happy to associate with the Central Election Commission of Russian Federation. I am very grateful to the Russian citizens in Kerala for their cooperation and enthusiasm to cast votes in the process of electing their new president." Sergey Azurov, Senior Consul General in Chennai, said, "We are organising preliminary voting in the framework of presidential elections. We are here to provide an opportunity for the citizens of Russian federations living in India." Also read | Russia election 2024: Putin urges citizens to vote even as Moldova accuses Moscow of breaking laws Ulia, a Russian citizen, said fellow natives in Kerala are thankful to the Russian house and consulate general in India for providing them the opportunity to cast votes in the Presidential polls. Speaking to ANI, Ulia said, "Everyone who came today are Russian citizens either residing permanently in India or are visiting tourists. Everybody is thankful and happy to come here and participate in the election, which is very important for every citizen. This is our responsibility. So, we are thankful to the Russian house and the consulate general in India from Chennai for providing this chance." Russia is all set to hold presidential elections from March 15-17. Russian citizens will vote from Friday until Sunday across the 11 time zones of the country. Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) approved only three candidates to oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin, CNN reported. The three candidates standing against Putin are Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vladislav Davankov of the New People Party and Nikolay Kharitonov of the Communist Party. All three men are thought to be satisfactorily pro-Kremlin and none is against Russia's military action against Ukraine. As the majority of opposition candidates are either dead, jailed, exiled, barred from running or simply token figures, a victory for Putin is all but guaranteed, according to a CNN report. Putin's reelection would extend his rule until at least 2030. Following constitutional changes in 2020, he would then be able to run again and potentially stay in power until 2036.

India's Kerala votes in Russian presidential elections. Here's how

Vladimir Putin will be taking part in the March presidential elections in Russia, Reuters news agency reported on Monday (Nov 6) citing sources.

If he wins, which he most likely will, the Russian leader, who turned 71 on Oct 7, will remain in power until 2030, making him the longest-serving leader in Russia since the inception of the Soviet Union.

Putin succeeded Boris Yeltsin on the last day of 1999. He has already served as president for longer than any other Russian ruler since Josef Stalin.

<h2>Putin pegged to be the winner&nbsp;</h2>

Though the confirmation hasn’t been made official yet, Reuters reported that Putin enjoys 80 per cent approval ratings.

With no opposition leader rallying that much support, and the supposed support from the state, Putin is pegged to be the clear winner.

"The decision has been made - he will run," one of the sources who has knowledge of planning told Reuters.

Kommersant newspaper also reported, citing a source, that a formal announced would made with a few weeks.

Another source told Reuters that Putin’s advisers were preparing for his participation and that Putin has made his mind about the presidential elections.

"The world we look out upon is very dangerous," one of the sources was quoted as saying.

<h2>Official confirmation awaited&nbsp;</h2>

There has been no official confirmation from the Kremlin till now, but spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in September that if Putin decided to run, then no one would be able to compete with him.

The reports of Putin running for president come at a time when rumours about his purported ill health have been raging since the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Kremlin has dismissed reports that Putin was unwell as disinformation spread by the West.

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"Everything is fine with him, this is absolutely another fake," Peskov responded on Oct 24 when asked about an unsourced report by a Russian Telegram channel, picked up by some Western media, that the President had suffered a serious health problem.

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The spokesman laughed in response to a further question about body doubles, and denied that Putin had any.

"This belongs to the category of absurd information hoaxes that a whole series of media discuss with enviable tenacity. This evokes nothing but a smile," Peskov said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin will be taking part in the March presidential elections in Russia, Reuters news agency reported on Monday (Nov 6) citing sources. If he wins, which he most likely will, the Russian leader, who turned 71 on Oct 7, will remain in power until 2030, making him the longest-serving leader in Russia since the inception of the Soviet Union.

Vladimir Putin will be taking part in the March presidential elections in Russia, Reuters news agency reported on Monday (Nov 6) citing sources. If he wins, which he most likely will, the Russian leader, who turned 71 on Oct 7, will remain in power until 2030, making him the longest-serving leader in Russia since the inception of the Soviet Union. Putin succeeded Boris Yeltsin on the last day of 1999. He has already served as president for longer than any other Russian ruler since Josef Stalin. Putin pegged to be the winner Though the confirmation hasn’t been made official yet, Reuters reported that Putin enjoys 80 per cent approval ratings. With no opposition leader rallying that much support, and the supposed support from the state, Putin is pegged to be the clear winner. "The decision has been made - he will run," one of the sources who has knowledge of planning told Reuters. Kommersant newspaper also reported, citing a source, that a formal announced would made with a few weeks. Another source told Reuters that Putin’s advisers were preparing for his participation and that Putin has made his mind about the presidential elections. "The world we look out upon is very dangerous," one of the sources was quoted as saying. Official confirmation awaited There has been no official confirmation from the Kremlin till now, but spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in September that if Putin decided to run, then no one would be able to compete with him. The reports of Putin running for president come at a time when rumours about his purported ill health have been raging since the Russia-Ukraine war. The Kremlin has dismissed reports that Putin was unwell as disinformation spread by the West. Also read | In rare move, US announces entry of nuclear submarine into Middle East "Everything is fine with him, this is absolutely another fake," Peskov responded on Oct 24 when asked about an unsourced report by a Russian Telegram channel, picked up by some Western media, that the President had suffered a serious health problem. Also read | Anti-Semitic crimes surge in France: 1,000+ recorded since Oct 7 Hamas attack The spokesman laughed in response to a further question about body doubles, and denied that Putin had any. "This belongs to the category of absurd information hoaxes that a whole series of media discuss with enviable tenacity. This evokes nothing but a smile," Peskov said. (With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin to run for March presidential election, seeks to remain in power until at least 2030: Report

Russian President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impeachment-against-trump-absolutely-on-made-up-grounds-putin-269164"> Vladimir Putin, 67</a>, in his year-end press conference dropped broad hints that he might not seek another term in 2024.

"Your humble servant served two successive terms and then stepped down and had the constitutional right to return to the post of president," he said, adding, "but some of our political scientists and activists do not like this and maybe this could be removed, possibly."

The press conference attended by 1,800 journalists especially accredited for the event were taken by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nobody-knows-origins-of-global-climate-change-putin-in-annual-press-conference-269149">surprise as Putin </a>made the remark which proved to be the biggest talking point of the marathon event.

“One thing that could be changed about these (presidential) terms is removing the clause about 'successive' (terms)," Putin said.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-president-putin-holds-annual-news-conference-269191/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

The Russian presidency was handed to Putin by Boris Yeltsin in 1999, the Russian leader served as president from 2000 to 2008 and then as premier from 2000 to 2012 and then returned as president in 2019.

Putin is due to step down in 2024 which will be the end of his fourth presidential term. Putin is barred from immediately running again under the Russian constitution.

The four hours and twenty-five minutes press conference saw the Russian president answer several questions specifically on Trump impeachment and the WADA ban on Russian sports.

Putin looked to back Trump, declaring that the impeachment was based on "made-up grounds".

"It still needs to go through the Senate, where the Republicans have a majority," Putin said.

"And it is hardly likely that they are going to push out of office a representative of their own party, on grounds that are absolutely made-up," he added.

On the WADA ban, he said: "If WADA does not have any issues with our national Olympic committee our team must compete under its flag."

WADA had banned Russia for four years from major global events, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar over doping manuplation.

"Any punishment should be individual," he added.

"If a majority of our athletes are clean how is it possible to slap sanctions against them for someone else's actions?"

"The WADA decision contradicts the Olympic Charter," Putin added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, 67, in his year-end press conference dropped broad hints that he might not seek another term in 2024. "Your humble servant served two successive terms and then stepped down and had the constitutional right to return to the post of president," he said, adding, "but some of our political scientists and activists do not like this and maybe this could be removed, possibly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, 67, in his year-end press conference dropped broad hints that he might not seek another term in 2024. "Your humble servant served two successive terms and then stepped down and had the constitutional right to return to the post of president," he said, adding, "but some of our political scientists and activists do not like this and maybe this could be removed, possibly." The press conference attended by 1,800 journalists especially accredited for the event were taken by surprise as Putin made the remark which proved to be the biggest talking point of the marathon event. “One thing that could be changed about these (presidential) terms is removing the clause about 'successive' (terms)," Putin said. Watch Video: The Russian presidency was handed to Putin by Boris Yeltsin in 1999, the Russian leader served as president from 2000 to 2008 and then as premier from 2000 to 2012 and then returned as president in 2019. Putin is due to step down in 2024 which will be the end of his fourth presidential term. Putin is barred from immediately running again under the Russian constitution. The four hours and twenty-five minutes press conference saw the Russian president answer several questions specifically on Trump impeachment and the WADA ban on Russian sports. Putin looked to back Trump, declaring that the impeachment was based on "made-up grounds". "It still needs to go through the Senate, where the Republicans have a majority," Putin said. "And it is hardly likely that they are going to push out of office a representative of their own party, on grounds that are absolutely made-up," he added. On the WADA ban, he said: "If WADA does not have any issues with our national Olympic committee our team must compete under its flag." WADA had banned Russia for four years from major global events, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar over doping manuplation. "Any punishment should be individual," he added. "If a majority of our athletes are clean how is it possible to slap sanctions against them for someone else's actions?" "The WADA decision contradicts the Olympic Charter," Putin added.

Putin hints at presidential term limit in marathon press conference