Putin to run for election in 2024

Reuters reported the information, citing its own sources.

According to six sources, Vladimir Putin has decided to run in the March presidential election, which will allow him to remain in power until at least 2030, as he believes he "must steer Russia through the most perilous period in decades."

Putin, who was handed the presidency by Boris Yeltsin in 1999, has now held it longer than any other Russian ruler since Joseph Stalin, surpassing even Leonid Brezhnev, who served 18 years.

Putin turned 71 on October 7.

Anonymous sources said that the news of Putin's decision did not spread immediately, and that advisers are now preparing for Putin's campaign and election.

According to opinion polls, the election is a formality for Putin, who has an 80% approval rating in Russia, if he runs: with the support of the state, state media and the almost complete absence of dissent in society, he is certain to win.

"The decision has been made - he will run," said one source familiar with the situation. Another source said that a clear hint should come in the next few weeks, confirming a Kommersant report published last month.

Yet another source, also familiar with the course of Russian politics, confirmed that the decision had been made and that Putin's advisers were preparing for Putin's participation. 

"The world we look out upon is very dangerous," one of the sources said.

Putin reportedly made the decision recently and that an announcement would be made soon.

Although many foreign diplomats, spies and officials say they expect Putin to remain in power for life, there has been no concrete confirmation of his plans to run in the March 2024 presidential election.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment. In September, he said that if Putin decides to run, no one would be able to compete with him.

• The Russian government is testing an electronic voting system ahead of the 2024 presidential election, likely to facilitate manipulation of the results in favor of Vladimir Putin.