State Duma deputy Nikolai Kharitonov emerged as a Soviet-era reformer-turned-political figure in the lead-up to Russia’s presidential race, as reported by RIA News citing the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. The publication notes that Kharitonov was put forward as the Communist Party’s candidate, a designation backed by the party’s top leadership and presented as the starting point for formal discussion at upcoming party gatherings. The disclosure indicates that while the candidacy has the backing of the party’s central bodies, the final decision would be refined through conversations with secretaries of primary branches during the plenary session in the run-up to the party congress, with a formal public announcement anticipated on Saturday.
The initial reporting also highlighted that Nikolai Kharitonov and Alexey Nechaev, who heads the New People faction, were seen as possible contenders for the Russian presidential ballot in 2024. This framing reflects a moment when coalition dynamics within the broader political landscape were shifting, with both a seasoned legislator and a newer party figure positioned as potential national candidates. [Sources: RIA News; Vedomosti]
According to insider accounts, the Communist Party planned to convene a congress on December 23 to select its candidate, with Vedomosti noting that Nikolai Kharitonov—serving as a State Duma deputy and chair of the Far Eastern and Arctic Development Committee—was at the center of those discussions in the lead-up to all-party meetings. The article underscored that the congress would formalize the party’s decision, anchoring it in a public declaration at that scheduled event.
Earlier, the public narrative from the New People group referenced anticipated discussions with President Vladimir Putin, signaling the broad interplay between leaders and factions as Russia prepared for the electoral cycle. Those remarks illustrated a political environment where candidates from established parties and newer movements alike were navigating the state’s attention and the electorate’s expectations.