During a ceremony honoring soldiers in the Kremlin by awarding them the highest military decoration yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his intention to run for a new presidential term.

The Central Election Commission of Russia had previously issued a statement, specifying March 15, 16, and 17 for the presidential elections.

The committee’s chairwoman, Ella Pamfilova, affirmed that extending the voting period to three days was in response to the citizens’ will, as they requested more time to participate in the democratic process.

This announcement came after the Russian Federation Council decided to schedule the elections on March 17, 2024.