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An outspoken pro-war blogger who has sharply criticized Russia's military strategy in Ukraine has said he wants to challenge Vladimir Putin in next March's presidential election.
Igor Girkin, 52, led pro-Russian fighters in eastern Ukraine in 2014, following Moscow's annexation of Crimea.
Girkin is in prison awaiting trial for extremism, which he denies. He said he wanted to disrupt the "fraudulent" poll with the already known winner. The comment is widely seen in Russia as a reference to President Putin, who has yet to publicly declare that he will run again.
"I understand very well that in the current situation in Russia, participating in the presidential campaign is like sitting at a table to play sharp cards.
I hope we join forces and disrupt the Kremlin's plans for elections in which "the only winner is known in advance". This is our chance to unite in the face of external and internal threats,” Girkin said in a letter to supporters, which he published on Telegram on Sunday.
The 52-year-old told his supporters to set up a campaign headquarters and start collecting signatures for his candidacy, even though he knew he would not be allowed to go out.
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