Russia to Hold Presidential Elections on March 17, 2024

The Federation Council of Russia voted today, Thursday, to hold presidential elections on March 17, 2024. The decision was unanimously approved with 162 votes in the Federation Council. Valentina Matviyenko, the Chairwoman of the Federation Council, stated: "Based on this decision, we will effectively begin the election campaign." She added that for the first time, residents of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, which were annexed by Russia, will participate in the voting. She further stated, "When we collectively choose the president of the state, we bear the same responsibility and we all share in determining the fate of the homeland." Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet officially announced his intention to run for a new six-year term.