Russia's election commission registers President Vladimir Putin as candidate in presidential election

Russia's election commission has registered incumbent President Vladimir Putin as a candidate in the March presidential election. The formal registration of Mr. Putin by the Central Election Commission was carried out yesterday. This happened after his campaign filed more than three lakh voter signatures. Mr Putin's campaign launched a signature collection drive after he expressed his



intention to seek another term in office in December.

The other three candidates so far registered by the commission include Nikolay Kharitonov of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia. If Mr Putin wins the election, it will be his fifth term.