MOSCOW, November 21. /TASS/. The smear campaign against Russia’s upcoming presidential election has begun, Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairperson Ella Pamfilova said.
"The presidential election is set to take place next March and this campaign has already begun. I don’t want to condemn those who left [Russia] for various reasons and aren’t throwing mud at the country. However, the scum who not just left but also seek to work off the mere pennies that they are paid are trying to create a network here to disrupt the election. Work is already underway both abroad and here, where these 'deadbeats' are wide awake, laying low," Pamfilova said at an international conference titled "Legal Support for Russia’s Sovereignty: Problems and Prospects," which is being held at Moscow State University as part of the 13th Moscow Legal Week.
According to her, this is not the first time that the CEC was facing such difficulties. "In 2020, when a nationwide vote on constitutional amendments took place, attempts were made to blow our system up from within. I will not go into detail but the system survived, as well as the community of people who represent different political pirates and public organizations and who come from various strata of society but are united by their love for Russia, their sense of duty and responsibility," the CEC chairperson added.
Under electoral laws, Russia is expected to hold its presidential election in mid-March 2024. The Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) will make a final decision on the date of the election in December 2023. After that, political parties will need to hold pre-election congresses and nominate their candidates.