Moscow [Russia], November 19:Igor Girkin, a prominent ultranationalist in custody in Russia awaiting trial on charges of inciting extremism, nominated himself to run for president in 2024 in an announcement read on his behalf, the online SOTA news channel said.
Girkin said from custody in August that he would make a better president than Vladimir Putin, whom he described as "too kind". His comments at the time were laced with irony and he is considered an unlikely contender.
In a post on its Telegram channel, SOTA carried a video of Oleg Nelzin, whom it described as co-chair of a group called Russian Movement for Strelkov, reading a letter from Girkin at a news conference.
The letter instructed his followers to set up a headquarters and start collecting signatures for his candidacy, SOTA said. Supporters of Girkin said in September that his criminal investigation had been extended until Dec. 18.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Corporation