Insight: Unveiling the Evolution of Russian Elections

Ekaterina Kotrikadze, a news director and anchor for the independent Russian TV channel Dozhd (TV Rain), now based in the Netherlands, shares her views in this commentary. The channel was shut down in March 2022 but relaunched from Europe in July 2022. You can find more on CNN Opinion.

On March 17, an event in Russia will take place that we traditionally refer to as an election. However, it is no longer a true election. It is simply the reappointment of Vladimir Putin to the highest position in the world's largest country.

Ekaterina Kotrikadze

Ekaterina Kotrikadze

Denis Kaminev

Back in 2003, during Putin's early days as president, I was a student at Moscow State University's Faculty of Journalism. It was my inaugural experience with parliamentary elections. I recall braving the icy snowdrifts of winter Moscow to cast my vote, feeling the chill in the air.

It made sense to me. I had decided to support the liberal Union of Right Forces (URF) party, led by Boris Nemtsov. Vladimir Kara-Murza also ran for this party. Unfortunately, the URF did not win and did not secure a spot in parliament.

Despite this setback, opposition movements persisted in the country. Political competition remained fierce and captivating. I enjoyed the vibrant election campaigns. Despite the country's shift towards autocracy, the Kremlin's rivals still had some freedom to express themselves.

They may not have been able to win elections, but they could still participate, speak to independent media, and share their ideas with a large audience. They also had the freedom to hold rallies and live in Russia.

Eight years later, after establishing myself in my journalism career, I reached out to Nemtsov for an interview during the 2011 parliamentary campaign. We met at a polling station in the heart of Moscow. Nemtsov was passionate and optimistic, discussing the importance of observers uncovering violations and believed that the authorities would be held accountable.

The allegations of electoral fraud sparked the largest protests in modern Russian history. Tens of thousands took to the streets.

Thousands of people protest against the parliament elections in Moscow, on December 24, 2011.

Thousands of people protest against the parliament elections in Moscow, on December 24, 2011.

Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images

Today, it's hard to believe that all these people just went silent instead of disappearing. In 2015, Nemtsov was shot in the back near the Kremlin walls. In 2023, Kara-Murza was convicted of "treason" and sentenced to 25 years in a maximum security colony.

I am unable to continue living and working in my country due to the full-scale war in Ukraine and the implementation of military censorship. As a result, the majority of independent media outlets have been shut down, and journalists like myself are now being targeted with criminal charges.

In this new situation, my role is to keep the Russian public informed about events in Russia, even though I am currently based in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, I am unable to physically go to polling stations, engage with voters, or question government authorities.

At the TV channel Dozhd (TV Rain), where I work, we have been labeled both a “foreign agent” and an “undesirable organization.” This means that simply sharing a video or interview from Dozhd can lead to criminal charges in Russia.

Despite the challenges, we have found ways to gather videos from all corners of Russia and conduct interviews safely. This has allowed us to share insights about Russia from beyond its borders.

Adapting to difficult circumstances may seem crazy at first, especially when faced with forced emigration. However, I discovered that it is possible to adjust to any situation. Despite the challenges, we found ways to obtain videos from various regions in Russia and developed safer methods for conducting interviews with people from Russia. This allowed us to share insights about Russia from beyond its borders.

The upcoming elections are happening without any strong competitor against Putin. It seems like there is no effort to pretend about democracy anymore.

Russia is going through a period of shame and sadness. Just a month before the voting day, news broke that Alexey Navalny, a 47-year-old, had died in a prison far in the Arctic Circle. I use the word "died" because to me, it is clear that a crime has been committed. Navalny, the leader of the opposition in Russia and considered the top political prisoner, spent nearly 300 days in solitary confinement, a situation that is almost impossible to endure. To add to the tragedy, Navalny's body was kept from his mother for a whole week.

After miraculously surviving a previous poisoning incident, suspicions of foul play surround Navalny's recent death, despite his official cause of death being listed as natural causes. His passing has left millions of Russians feeling lost and weakened.

In the weeks leading up to Navalny's death, politician Boris Nadezhdin expressed his intention to run for president. Nadezhdin, once a member of the party the author supported in 2003, has since transformed into a "system liberal" who frequently appears on state-run television and is criticized by propagandists. He describes himself as cautious, adaptable, and not a hero or a fighter, admitting to making compromises and feeling fearful.

Politician Boris Nadezhdin speaks to journalists after being barred from standing in Russia's presidential election, in February.

Politician Boris Nadezhdin speaks to journalists after being barred from standing in Russia's presidential election, in February.

Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

However, this man bravely spoke out against the war in Ukraine. His courageous act sparked a wave of support across Russia, with crowds of people lining up to endorse Nadezhdin's presidential bid. In Russia, it is necessary for a candidate to gather signatures from citizens in various regions in order to be included on the ballots.

The Central Election Commission of Russia did not allow Nadezhdin to participate in the elections. However, queues have already taken place, which has cost the Kremlin dearly. Thousands of people who are against Putin have seen each other and realized they are not alone. This feeling intensified during Navalny’s funeral on March 1, when a huge crowd defied police cordons to come to the cemetery.

Despite the severe repressions in Russia, the internet still provides a platform for dissent. While platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram are banned, young Russians have found ways to access them using VPNs. Videos captured on smartphones quickly find their way into Telegram chats. YouTube, which remains unblocked in Russia, has emerged as the new TV for independent journalists and politicians.

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The longer Putin stays in power, the more freedoms and democracy from the early 1990s seem to disappear. Although we may not be able to ensure fair elections, we can strive to report on this political circus with honesty.

Our audience is expanding, with 22 million people tuning in to TV Rain in February based on YouTube analytics. This increase gives us optimism, much like the crowds at Nadezhdin's events and Navalny's vision of a better future for Russia. Despite the challenges, we are determined not to give up.

Editor's P/S:

The article paints a somber picture of Russia's political landscape and the erosion of democracy under Putin's rule. The upcoming election is a mere formality, as no genuine opposition is allowed to challenge his grip on power. The recent death of opposition leader Alexey Navalny in prison is a tragic reminder of the Kremlin's ruthlessness.

Despite the suppression, the internet and platforms like YouTube provide a lifeline for independent journalists like Ekaterina Kotrikadze and her colleagues at TV Rain. Their reporting offers a vital source of information for Russians seeking the truth amidst the Kremlin's propaganda. The resilience of the Russian people is evident in the outpouring of support for Nadezhdin and the defiance displayed at Navalny's funeral. While the challenges are formidable, the article inspires hope that the spirit of freedom and dissent cannot be extinguished entirely. is labeled a "foreign agent" and "undesirable organization." Their work is a testament to the resilience of the free press and the importance of keeping the public informed, even in the face of adversity.