Russia's presidential candidate shows why Putin fears leaving power

I think he'd retire. But it is hard to convince that there is a way out and that you can trust those who give assurances that they will not expect the same fate as former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinoshet, or former Libyan dictator Moamar Gaddafi. He's so afraid of this” option.

The 36-year-old Sobchak candidate has been questioned by opposition activists who suspect her campaign is simply the Kremlin's insinuation to help another Vladimir Putin victory. But the claims it raises have been heard by others.

Alexei Navajo, the popular anti-corruption activist, has made similar claims several months ago.

After being stripped of the right to run for public office on charges that his supporters view as politically motivated, Navajo raised Putin's desire to quit politics. But he's outside the Russian president's circle. And Sobchak is the first to make that comment by people who know Putin personally.

Asked whether the transition to the hands of another leader who does not belong to Putin's powerful allies circle could be realised without violence, she says the process would require a political strategy:

“We are talking about a long-term political strategy. After six years Putin will not seek new constitutional changes to take part again in the election”.

A slow change requires that <x0-aggression” be minimized allowing “young, talented people, as well as a compromise-elected political figure that meets opposition requirements, but also accepted by Putin,”, she says.

We need to show that we want a regime change, but not revenge for past years,” otherwise it says, if the spirit of retaliation continues, the regime would be even more afraid and Putin would never give up power.

“not just guarantees, but evidence that Russia can evolve and is ready for elections, and that Putin should not worry that the courts he has turned into the ice institutions will prosecute”.

The Desire for Best Relationships

Mrs. Sobchak was in a number of activities with important figures that are in Washington, where she opposed skeptics' remarks, including Navajo, saying she had real political ambitions.

In comments at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies Tuesday, Mrs. Sobchak said he plans to meet with American officials for sanctions against Russia.

I want to stress that Russia is not Putin, that we are ready for co-operation and that many people in Russia who want improvement in relations between our countries do not see America as Russia's enemy”.

Washington first imposed measures to freeze assets and stop travel in 2014, following Russia's annexation of Crime and the outbreak of fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian separatists. The following measures followed reports of American intelligence that Russia was mobilised into activities to influence the 2016 elections.

These sanctions are also in effect during the Trump administration, despite the president's comments to improve relations with Moscow.

Last summer Congress adopted a law on new punishment measures against Russia, but last week the State Department and Treasury refused to implement new sanctions.

Voicing support for US sanctions targeted “idid individual corrupt” in Russia, Mrs. Sobchak criticised the Kremlin's “8x3> ) designed by the Treasury Department, with the names of 210 Russians identified as individuals with close ties to Putin. She described it as a simple list of the names of the richest individuals and government officials.

Critics such as Navalny welcomed the list, but supporters of the Russian president described it as a hostile act. Meanwhile, observers of Russian political developments like Konstantin von Eggert said the list was so wide that it nullified the roles of the interest groups inside and outside the Kremlin.

“Looks like we're back in the Cold War,” said Sobchak, adding that she herself would try to play the mediator role between Moscow and Washington.

Diplomat Diplomat

Sobchak says neither Russian nor American political leadership is expected to pass the current diplomatic stalemate, which culminated in the law on registering foreign agents. She says she opposes this law.

She adds Putin is not expected to take the first step, but that others should do what is possible to persuade the two leaders to give up the male ego and take the first step.

If they're not ready, I'll take the first step. I'm here, meeting officials. I think I'll meet Donald Trump. I want to start this process”

Asked if the Kremlin had instructed her to try to improve relations with Washington, she answers:

I don't need a warrant. I'm ready to show that Russia has a political leadership that is ready for this dialogue”.

Among the six candidates to be included in the ballot, Sobchak is known as a television personality. Her father, Anatolia Sobchak, was mayor of St Petersburg. He brought an unknown KGB officer named Vladimir Putin to work in municipal offices years ago, and both became friends.

Sobchak, who has repeatedly dismissed rumours that he has close personal ties with President Putin, described the meeting with Putin in 2017 as an interview he conducted with him for a documentary it is implementing.

Critics of the Kremlin say that most candidates are just puppet personalities to fill out paper with names in order to ensure Putin's victory in a strongly controlled political environment. / VoA