Campaign representatives will appear on behalf of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in televised Russian presidential election debates starting on Monday.
Vedomosti daily said filmmaker Stanislav Govorukhin, head of Putin’s election headquarters, and political analysts Sergei Markov and Dmitry Orlov will be among the stand-ins, who will be formally registered on Monday.
Russia’s central election commission announced the debate schedule on Thursday.
Putin’s spokesman said earlier this month the prime minister would not take part in the televised debates, to be shown on the national Rossiya and First Channels, because it would “impede his ability to duly carry out his duties.”
The four other candidates, veteran Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, Liberal Democratic Party head Vladimir Zhirinovsky, former upper house speaker Sergei Mironov, and billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, have all said they will take part in the debates.
Prokhorov’s spokeswoman however told Vedomosti the tycoon will nominate representatives to face Putin’s stand-ins.
Putin is widely expected to win the March 4 elections but analysts suggest it is no longer certain he will triumph in the first round of voting.
