Boris Nadezhdin told the wives of Russia’s mobilized soldiers the war was “a big mistake by Putin, of course, and the consequences will be very grave.”

A politician bidding to run against Vladimir Putin in Russia’s upcoming presidential election described the decision to go to war in Ukraine as a “big mistake” in comments to the wives of soldiers on Thursday.

Boris Nadezhdin, representing a centre-right party called Civic Initiative that has no seats in parliament, is seeking to gather the necessary 100,000 signatures from people across Russia to enable him to stand against Putin.

Nadezhdin, 60, told the soldiers’ wives that the war, which the Kremlin calls a “special military operation”, was “a big mistake by Putin, of course, and the consequences will be very grave.”

    • @assembly@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      4011 months ago

      It will come as a complete surprise when we hear that he committed suicide by four self inflicted gunshot wounds to the head.

      • @buzziebee@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        1811 months ago

        Oh it’s totally normal for someone to shoot themselves15 times with a gun that holds 11 bullets. They probably reloaded halfway through.

        • Alto
          link
          fedilink
          1011 months ago

          Russian people so strong they survive many gunshot wound, is normal

      • @OpenStars@startrek.website
        link
        fedilink
        English
        611 months ago

        No no no no, first he will shoot himself in the back of the head, then fall down several flights of stairs, then shoot himself in the back of the head again, then he will fall out of the building. A message needs to be sent: you cannot be too careful what you say when you run against Putin.

    • kreynen
      link
      fedilink
      2511 months ago

      which shouldn’t be difficult as the “rest of his life” will likely be just a few days

    • @orbitz@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      411 months ago

      I was thinking I hope he enjoys below ground windowless rooms. Though I guess the below ground covers the windowless but you want your bases covered just in case. Also no tea.

  • @Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    English
    5211 months ago

    Russia regularly allows fall-guy opponents to play the part of opposition without threatening the regime. This guy will either have his signatures disqualified (if he’s legit) or get some single digits votes proving his ideas are not supported. If he starts to catch on he’ll fumble in some way to make sure it putters out. They reject actual opposition that could threaten the ruling party and can’t be controlled.

  • @Tilgare@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    2711 months ago

    At this point it has to be “suicide by election” right? Why put yourself in the line of fire?

    • @Cinner@lemmy.worldB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      1311 months ago

      You can only make so many martyrs before anyone with a conscience is willing to become one as well.

  • @cafeinux@infosec.pub
    link
    fedilink
    English
    2511 months ago

    At first I thought “This guy’s done”, then I thought “There are still Russians not indoctrinated, and they got balls. Let’s hope it sparkles some things in others”.

  • squiblet
    link
    fedilink
    2311 months ago

    It’s pretty brave to run against Putin at all, even without criticism like this. For one, someone can’t really expect to win, so it’s essentially a form of protest. And then, look where Navalny is.

  • @Gork@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1911 months ago

    Hmm. Wouldn’t be surprised if he got forcibly conscripted to a penal battalion and ordered on a suicide mission in Ukraine only to be picked off by drones.

  • @swade2569@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1511 months ago

    I’m guessing he will live until about 6 weeks after losing the election, then have an accident with a 5 story window. Given how long Prigozhin lasted. .

    • @Cinner@lemmy.worldB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      6
      edit-2
      11 months ago

      Progozhin had a literal army protecting him. It still took over a month and the first opportunity was to plant a bomb under the wing of his private jet.

      Putin will use as much propaganda and (made up) blackmail as he needs, and if that doesn’t work, he’ll make sure he does something to be able to lock him up, just like he did to Navalny.

  • Naja Kaouthia
    link
    fedilink
    English
    611 months ago

    Anyone got a betting pool going yet for when this guy falls out a window?

  • NullPointer
    link
    fedilink
    English
    611 months ago

    never has the advice “stay away from the windows” been more important .