A spokesperson in the Donetsk People’s Republic Parliament, Artem Zhoga, indicated that he carried a message to Russia’s president urging new residents to cast ballots in the 2024 presidential elections. The information surfaced through a report by TASS, the state news agency.
Zhoga, who leads the Sparta battalion, spoke as a liaison for residents in the allied territories, saying that the appeal came on behalf of soldiers and people living in the united regions. He emphasized that the call was for Vladimir Putin to participate in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation.
Zhoga described Putin’s reaction as acknowledging a changing reality. He suggested that the times are tough and demanding, yet the president would stand with the people and make decisions decisively, trusting his own judgments without hesitation.
Earlier, Zhoga had signaled openness to serving as a confidant to Putin, signaling a readiness to deepen ties with the Kremlin leadership.
In another development, on December 8, Putin stated at a ceremony honoring Russian military personnel who took part in the special operation that he planned to participate in the forthcoming presidential elections. This comment reinforced his stated intent to remain actively involved in the political process.
Previously, there had been remarks about politicians functioning as temporary agents in the field, a reference that underscored the fluctuating roles within the political and military landscape surrounding the events in question.