Kremlin Asserts Putin's Assured Victory, Questions Need for Elections

The Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated that Russia "theoretically" doesn't need to hold presidential elections next year because it is "obvious" that Vladimir Putin will win. Putin's tight grip on power and crackdown on dissent make his 2024 re-election all but certain. The ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the unpopularity of the war among Russian citizens add further complexity to the political landscape.