Vladimir Putin Vows to Run as Independent Candidate in 2018 Race

TEHRAN (defapress)- Russian President Vladimir Putin said at his annual news conference on Thursday he will run in the 2018 presidential election as an independent candidate, but expects to have support of forces sharing his views on the country’s development.

News ID: 67488

Date: 14 December 2017 - 14:35

"This will be a self-nomination," Putin said, adding that "I expect a widespread support of the Russian citizens", TASS reported.

The post of the Russian president, elected according to direct suffrage, was introduced based on the results of a referendum on March 17, 1991. Any citizen not younger than 35 and who has been a permanent resident of Russia for at least 10 years, is eligible to hold the office of head of state.

Russia’s forthcoming election is due on March 18, 2018. The Federation Council is to declare the date officially between December 8 and 15, as Upper House Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said earlier.