In Russia’s coming presidential election, the candidates running against Vladimir Putin are confident of one thing: their certain defeat.

       “I don’t dream of beating Putin. What’s the point?" Leonid Slutsky, the leader of Russia’s Liberal-Democratic Party, or LDPR, said after registering his candidacy in December. Andrei Bogdanov from the Russian Party of Freedom and Justice was more blunt when asked if he can win: “Of course not. Do I look like an idiot?"

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