Age is key: Putin's "competitors" in upcoming elections revealed

Meduza revealed the information, drawing from insiders closely connected to the Kremlin.

According to statements from officials, introducing younger contenders on the ballot could prompt Russians to consider whether the 70-year-old Putin remains the decisive leader he was when he first took power.

At present, expectations indicate that, aside from Putin, representatives from three parliamentary parties will participate in the elections: the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and New People party. Gennady Zyuganov is being considered by the Kremlin as the CPRF candidate, valued for his predictability. While Zyuganov is fairly recognized, he might not attract a fresh voter base. His previous presidential bids garnered 17% in 2008 and 18% in 2012.

“Stability in Zyuganov's ratings is deemed important by the Kremlin, as they are aiming for a "record result" for Putin in the upcoming elections,” Meduza writes.

Notably, on August 6, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the New York Times that in the 2024 elections, Putin will win more than 90% of the vote.

Currently, sociologists estimate the rating of the country's main communist at a range from 3% to 10.2%.

The Kremlin views Leonid Slutsky, the leader of LDPR, as a “suitable candidate”, even though his popularity ratings are relatively low.

The situation is more complicated with the New People candidate. The Kremlin prefers the party's chairman, businessman Alexey Nechaev, for the role, but Nechaev himself is hesitant. He understands that he would be allowed to reach only marginal results and does not want to be relegated to insignificance.

“Nechaev's broader ambition is for New People to secure at least a third-place finish in the 2026 State Duma elections. He believes that a poor showing in the presidential race could impede this objective,” the outlet states. 

Nechaev is instead suggesting Vladyslav Davankov, the vice-speaker of the State Duma and a current mayoral candidate in Moscow, as a replacement. However, the Kremlin is opposed to Davankov due to his age (39) and eloquence, which they fear could overshadow Putin.

• Earlier reports in January indicated that the Kremlin had initiated preparations for the 2024 elections with Putin's participation.