Vladimir Putin Announces Intention To Run For Fifth Term In Power

Vladimir Putin is set to contest for a fifth term in power after announcing that he will vie for Russia’s presidency in March 2024.

The leader of the Eastern European nation made his intention known after pinning the “Hero of Russia” gold star medals on Russian soldiers who fought in Ukraine.

When lieutenant colonel Artyom Zhoga, who was born in Ukraine during the Soviet era and fights for Russia, quizzed Putin, “You are our president; we are your team. We need you. Russia needs you.”

Putin thanked Zhoga and said, “I will not hide that I have had different thoughts at different times but it is now time to make a decision. I will run for the post of president.”

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Sapizhat Mazayeva, the mother of a fallen soldier who was also decorated with the gold star medal, hailed Putin and told him that he needed to continue in power.

Former Kremlin adviser Sergei Markov said Putin’s announcement indicates that he is “going to the polls as a military leader of a country at war. This is exactly what the choice of the place of Putin’s statement says: at the request of officers, heroes of Russia, heroes of the war in Donbas.”

Putin, who has shown strong intent to continue with the war against Ukraine despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), said:

“Today, under the arches of the Georgievsky Hall of the Kremlin, which embodies the greatness of Russia’s military glory, we honour the heroes of our Fatherland. I am convinced that together we will definitely achieve all our goals.”

Vladimir Putin, 71, is likely to win the election in March and is still eligible to contest for a sixth term in power.