Putin's Unstoppable Path to a Fifth Term: Confident, Harsh, and Rigged

Russian President Vladimir Putin will run as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential elections, signaling his confidence in winning another six-year term. Despite having the support of the ruling United Russia party, Putin has chosen to run independently. The lack of opposition and control over state-backed media have contributed to his dominance in Russian politics. Meanwhile, jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny has disappeared since December 6, with the Kremlin claiming to have no information about his whereabouts.