Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will seek another fifth term in office.
He spoke about his intention during the awarding ceremony for participants in the war in Ukraine.
It comes a day after officials set March 15-17, 2024 as the dates for the presidential election.
Mr Putin’s re-election seems inevitable, with opposition almost extinct as Russian media fall under his control.
The 71-year-old leader has already been in power in Russia longer than any ruler since Josef Stalin. The new term will see him continue as president until 2030.
On Thursday, Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, announced the election. Shortly after, the country’s election commission said that it will be held for three days, from March 15-17.
Following the announcement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a “surprising” number of people wanted Mr Putin to remain as leader.
It didn’t take him long to make his intentions clear.
Mr Putin spoke at an informal meeting after a ceremony at the Kremlin to award Ukrainian war heroes the ‘Hero of Russia medal’.
